NEWPORT County manager Dean Holdsworth swelled with pride after seeing his side more than match Blue Square Premier outfit Rushden & Diamonds over two FA Trophy clashes.

The sides couldn’t be separated after more than 200 minutes of football this week and County were finally eliminated on penalties in Tuesday night’s replay at Nene Park.

Craig Reid’s opening goal looked to have booked the Exiles a trip to Torquay in the next round but a 93rd minute equaliser forced the game into extra-time and Rob Duffy was the unlucky man who saw his spot-kick saved in the shootout.

But, despite the eventual outcome, Holdsworth found it difficult to be too downhearted.

“I’m not that disappointed. We haven’t won the tie but we haven’t lost the game,” said the Exiles boss.

“It’s better to lose doing the right things than win doing the wrong things.

“We prepared right, we got it tactically right and we gave them a good test.

“Man for man we matched them and I’m really proud of the players,” he added.

“I said to them in the dressing room that I will go into bat with them all season. With that sort of performance and that sort of heart we will succeed. They were a different class.

“I’m not going to single anyone out, it was a great performance from everyone and on another day we could have won it.

“They might have had another one or two goals as well but we matched them for effort and for spirit and I’m delighted.”

Holdsworth refused to blame Duffy for the defeat, insisting he deserved praise for having the courage to take a penalty.

“I didn’t need to say anything to Rob,” he said. “He’s disappointed to come back to his old club and miss a penalty but I don’t need to pat him on the back, he’s a big boy and you’ve just got to get on with it.

“But he put himself up for taking a penalty and I say well done for that.”

Holdsworth was also delighted with the news that former captain Ian Hillier appears to have settled his differences with the club and looks set to return to Spytty Park in the near future.

“It’s a massive boost to us to get Ian back on board, I know the supporters will share my delight that everything is on its way to being resolved,” he said.

“The lads think the world of him and one or two had a really tough time with what happened to him.

“I have stayed in contact with Ian throughout and he has remained positive and believes he can play again this season. We certainly hope that will be the case.”

One cloud on the horizon for Holdsworth was the news that Nathan Davies will be sidelined for at least another month after scans on his leg revealed that the midfield stalwart has cracked his fibula.

“It’s a big blow for us to lose Nathan for another month and it makes it even more important that we keep hold of Wayne Turk and the other loan players,” said Holdsworth.