County beaten at Sixfields by leaders Northampton Town.
Manager Warren Feeney made two changes to the team that played against Bristol Rovers, with Jake Gosling and Ben Davies slotting into the starting eleven, while Tom Meechan made a return to the subs bench.The game started at a high tempo, with both teams looking to set their stalls out early. Winger Jake Gosling created the first chance of the game for County, as his intelligent quick free-kick to the far-post was met by Andrew Hughes, who managed to touch the ball back into a dangerous position, but the hosts were able to scramble the ball clear to prevent the danger.
Just after ten minutes later Scott Boden was presented with a great opportunity to open the scoring, when he was played in one-on-one with Adam Smith, but the striker placed his effort narrowly past the post.
County continued a strong attacking intent and came close to scoring again on the fifteen-minute mark, when John-Christophe Ayina received the ball on the edge of the area and managed to dig out a shot that flashed past the right-hand post.
The Exiles were made to pay for failing to convert the two chances that had come our way, when a Rickey Holmes cross from the right was touched down in front of John Marquis, who was able to fire the ball into the roof of the net to give the home side the lead.
Just before the half-hour mark County threatened the home goal once again. A long punt forward by Joe Day was headed by Ayina into the path of Alex Rodman, who dribbled into the area and forced Adam Smith to make a good safe at the near post to keep the scores level.
Just before the break County robbed possession from the Northampton defence and John Ayina found himself one-on-one with the 'keeper and attempted to squeeze the ball underneath the advancing Adam Smith, but the 'keeper smothered his effort.
Into the second half and County sparked into life after the hour mark, when cross from the left was met by John-Christophe Ayina who touched the ball into the path of Alex Rodman and the winger flashed a volley past the post.
County continued to heap pressure on the Northampton defence, and with twenty-minutes left on the clock Boden and Elito combined well on the edge of the box, which created the space for Elito to shoot and the midfielder saw his effort bounce back off the crossbar. County maintained the attacking play in search of an equaliser, when a corner from the right was met by Mark Byrne, who had a free header on goal, but his effort bounced into the floor.
In the last of the four minutes of stoppage time Joe Day made his way up for a attacking free-kick, but County were unable to carve out another attempt on goal.
FINAL SCORE: NORTHAMPTON TOWN 1 - 0 NEWPORT COUNTY
County Starting XI: Day, Holmes, Donacien, Davies, Hughes, Byrne (C), Elito, Gosling, Rodman, Boden, Ayina
Subs: Green, Klukowski, Barrow, Owen-Evans, Partridge, Meechan
Bookings: Byrne (19')