NEWPORT County AFC’s winless streak continued after a 2-1 loss to struggling Salford in League Two.

The Exiles, stretched by a long injury list, have taken just two points from their last five games after failing to make pressure count at Moor Lane.

Salford hit the front after 24 minutes when Matty Lund exploited some iffy defending to glance in a corner but County responded swiftly to level on the half hour, Bryn Morris driving in left-footed from just inside the box.

The Ammies regained the advantage in the last of six added minutes when a dangerous cross from the left went in after a deflection, Declan Drysdale the unlucky man credited with an own goal.

Will Evans was denied a leveller by an offside flag - wrongly, the Exiles believe - and then missed a golden chance as County pushed for an equaliser.

It didn’t come and the Ammies, play-off semi-finalists last season, ended their five-game losing streak with a win.

Just like Bradford seven days earlier, County provided a lift to a side in trouble.

The Exiles, who have never beaten Salford in the league, don’t have long to lick their wounds and will need more of a cutting edge when Colchester head to Rodney Parade on Tuesday.

Manager Graham Coughlan gave a shot at redemption to the starters from the 4-1 loss to Bradford, making one solitary and expected change with captain Ryan Delaney returning from suspension in place of the injured James Clarke at the heart of the defence.

It was a scrappy start in challenging, greasy conditions with the first incident of note a booking for County midfielder Aaron Wildig, a predictable yellow for an innocuous foul given card-happy referee Sebastian Stockbridge’s history this season.

The Exiles grew into the game and posed some questions with whipped balls into the box that home goalkeeper Alex Cairns dealt with well, wisely opting to palm and punch rather than catch the slippery ball.

Morris curled well over from distance – with Omar Bogle telling his midfielder he could have been slipped in – and Aaron Wildig failed to hit the target from 30 metres after a loose Salford ball.

Will Evans tested Cairns with a low shot in the 19th minute after a neat turn but the Ammies captain held on.

But all County’s good work was undone with a frustratingly simple opener in the 25th minute when Wales defender Declan John whipped in a corner from the right that was headed in by Lund at the near post.

Stevie Mallan nearly made it 2-0 with fast feet and a curled a shot from distance that hit the outside of Nick Townsend’s left post.

County responded and, after Wildig failed to test Cairns from inside the area, Morris levelled on the half hour.

Bogle and James Waite combined to play in the midfielder down the left and he kept his composure with a low, hard finish for his first goal since joining from Grimsby.

It was soon a remarkable turnaround but Bogle was denied by a super save after 33 minutes, Cairns sticking out a left boot to deflect a low drive behind for a corner.

Suddenly it was end-to-end with Lund inches away from connecting with a dangerous cross from the Salford left.

County’s injury woes got worse when Adam Lewis was helped from the field with Matty Bondswell replacing him down the left.

Both sides had their chances in six minutes of added time with James Waite and John denied by strong saves.

It looked set to be level-pegging at the break but County, who could have done with better game management, fell behind with almost the final kick of the half. Dangerman Kelly Nmai drove in a cross from the left and it went in off Drysdale.

Salford, buoyed by their late strike, started the second half on the front foot but it remained 2-1 as the hour passed.

County then thought they had levelled when Will Evans scrambled the ball in only for the striker to be denied by the offside flag and get a caution for his protests.

The Exiles were enjoying a good spell and Coughlan added fresh legs with the introduction of Nathan Wood for Waite.

They should have been level after 66 minutes only for Evans to head over from close to the penalty spot when unmarked from a Wildig cross.

It was one-way traffic but County still trailed in the northern gloom with Kiban Rai introduced in the 80th minute for Scot Bennett as Coughlan went very attacking.

Salford should have hit the Exiles with a sucker punch with six minutes to go after a ricochet led to Ryan Watson bursting clear but he failed to hit the target in his one-on-one with Townsend.

County kept pushing – Evans failing with two headers, wood driving wide – but were deflated when just three minutes went up for added time and failed to create any late drama.

Salford goals: Lund, Drysdale (OG).

County: Townsend, McLoughlin, Drysdale, Delaney (captain), Lewis (Bondswell 39), Bennett (Rai 79), Morris, Wildig, Waite (Wood 64), Evans, Bogle.

Substitutes: Maxted, Payne, Seberry, Thomas.

Yellow: Wildig, Morris, Evans.

Goal: Morris.

Referee: Sebastian Stockbridge.

Attendance: 2,006 (220 County).