Newport County denied at the death by Crewe in League Two

The Exiles looked set to sign off with a win when Omar Bogle scrambled in a second goal just after 90 minutes.

However, County failed get their heads back on the task and were immediately hit by a Lachlan Brook leveller.

REACTION: Coughlan frustrated by draw ahead of crunch talks

Just like against Harrogate last time out in Newport, Graham Coughlan’s men proved to be vulnerable straight after scoring.

County had the better of the first half without testing Crewe ‘keeper Tom Booth enough then fell behind to an incredible strike by Rio Adebisi, possibly goal of the season at Rodney Parade, in the 56th minutes.

The Exiles rode their luck a little until levelling in the 77th when Bogle held his nerve from the penalty spot for his 18th of the season after Charlie McNeill had been fouled.

County went in search of a winner, got what should have been one then let it slip. They would have finished 12th but instead stay 15th.

It wasn’t the win that they wanted to finish a challenging campaign but it did at least end a run of defeats on home soil before returning for 2023/24.

How many of this side will return next season is yet to be seen after boss Graham Coughlan admitted pre-match that the club had been unable to compete with offers for some key men.

Captain Mickey Demetriou, who brought up 300 appearances for the club, Nick Townsend, Cameron Norman, Aaron Lewis and Scot Bennett were starters whose deals expire this summer along with Priestley Farquharson, James Clarke, James Waite.

Coughlan made four changes to the starting line-up from Gillingham with academy prospect Kiban Rai, an 18-year-old from Brecon, given a first start up front alongside Omar Bogle after lively cameos.

Scot Bennett, Aaron Wildig and Harry Charsley came into midfield with the absence of Farquharson, who limped off at Priestfield, meaning a defensive rejig.

Aaron Lewis moved from midfield to right-back with Norman shifted to the central trio.

Forward Tom Stokes, who had been in superb goal-scoring form for the academy, was on the bench for the first time under Coughlan after being an unused substitute for James Rowberry in the EFL Cup.

Courtney Baker-Richardson, who helped Dom Telford win the golden boot last season, returned to Rodney Parade as a Crewe starter.

The Railwaymen should have hit the front in the second minute but Daniel Agyei failed to hit the target from close range after Chris Long’s drilled cross from the left to the far post.

County responded well and got on the front foot but then needed Townsend to pull off a remarkable save to keep it level in the 14th minute.

Agyei drove at Demetriou and worked a yard to curl in a left-footed effort that was set for the top left corner only for the goalkeeper to tip onto the bar.

County went straight down the other end only for left wing-back Will Evans to show one of his main work-ons for next season by slicing a shot wide from the edge of the area when he should have tested Booth.

That was the main criticism of a lively and energetic start; the Exiles failed to turn pressure into shots on target.

The game hit a lull with some of County’s decision-making and execution enraging Coughlan in his technical area, with his mood not helped by Cameron Norman shooting from a tight angle in the 37th minute and being denied by the stopper.

It was goalless at the break after a half in which the hosts had nine corners, plenty of pressure but managed just three shots on target.

County made a double change just eight minutes after the restart with loan forwards Charlie McNeill and Calum Kavanagh introduced for Charsley and Rai, who got a round of applause from Bogle as well as the crowd after a lively and encouraging full debut.

But the Exiles, with Bennett at the heart of the defence and Norman back to the right flank, were soon chasing a leveller after Adeisi collected the ball 30 metres out and curled a wonderful effort beyond the reach of Townsend.

County had a golden chance for an immediate response but Lewis bizarrely opted against a shot and chipped a pass to Evans, who fired wide.

Baker-Richardson was inches away from a goal-scoring return from a cross then lashed wide after the ball fell to him off the thighs of Demetriou.

Another double-change, and more shape shifting, came with 22 to go when Bennett and Lewis made way for Waite and Nathan Moriah-Welsh.

Crewe were close to sealing the win after 73 minutes when Lachlan Brook, who scored a stunner in the Gresty Road meeting, smashed a shot against the left post and County made the most of the escape.

McNeill danced into the box, was brought down, referee Anthony Backhouse pointed to the spot and Bogle slid the penalty low to his right with Booth going the wrong way.

County went hunting a winner and it took a fine save to deny Kavanagh with six minutes to go after he outpaced the defence to get onto a pass by Bogle.

The hosts did go in front when Bogle scrambled in from McNeill’s driven cross but then Brook was left unmarked at the far post from the restart to sweep in.

County: Townsend, Lewis (Waite 68), Norman, Baker, Demetriou (captain), Evans, Bennett (Moriah-Welsh 68), Wildig, Charsley (McNeill 53), Rai (Kavanagh 53), Bogle.

Substitutes not used: Day, Bowen, Stokes.

Goal: Bogle (2, one penalty).

Yellow: Bennett.

Crewe goal: Adebisi, Brook.

Yellow: Thomas.

Referee: Anthony Backhouse Attendance: 4,915 (446 Crewe)