Our 2021-22 campaign ended with defeat, as Rochdale were 2-0 victors at Rodney Parade.
Rochdale had the first effort at goal, but Luke Charnan could only curl wide of the far post from the left of the box.
Dale did take the lead on 16 minutes through when Matt Done broke the offside trap, at least in the opinion of the officials, and fired home past Nick Townsend into the right of the net for 0-1.
County's first major chance of note came when Finn Azaz hit the near post after a lovely give-and-go move ended with Dom Telford knocking the ball into Azaz's path who struck the woodwork and away from a tight angle.
Ethan Brierley at the other end looked lively as his jinking run fashioned a chance for the Rochdale man, but he struck straight at Townsend from the edge of the box.
Newport's final effort of the opening 45 was merely a half chance as Josh Pask flicked Scot Bennett's cross from the left over the bar.
Brierley would try his luck again early in the second half, but this long-range strike went high and wide of Townsend's left post.
Rob Street meanwhile could only head over the bar in Newport's first notable opening of the second half as we pushed for the leveller.
The Crystal Palace loanee came agonisingly close to getting the equaliser though, however he could only sidefoot narrowly wide on 67 minutes from the left of the box.
Telford also had a great chance for 1-1 soon after but he was denied by an impressive on-rushing Jake Eastwood who did well to keep out the effort from Telford after he was picked out by an excellent Jake Cain through ball.
An effort 10 minutes from time signalled that it was not going to be our day though when Josh Pask's fierce drive from the edge of the box was brilliantly saved by Eastwood down to his left, and Street headed the rebounded ball that was just too high for him over the bar.
Josh Andrews was introuduced as an 87th minute sub and almost scored immediately, but he could only strike wide from close range.
Rochdale did get a second in stoppage time though when substitute Abraham Odoh found the back of the net inside the box to make it 0-2.
Newport County: Nick Townsend, Cameron Norman, James Clarke, Matt Dolan (C), Josh Pask, Aaron Lewis, Scot Bennett (Harrison Bright '61), Finn Azaz, Oliver Cooper (Jake Cain '45), Rob Street, Dom Telford (Lewis Collins '73)
Subs not used: Joe Day, Alex Fisher, Kevin Ellison, Jake Cain, James Waite
Rochdale: Jake Eastwood, Corey O'Keeffe, Jim McNulty, Max Taylor, Eoghan O'Connell (C), Stephen Dooley, Luke Charnan (Abraham Odoh '76), Conor Grant, Matty Done (Josh Andrews '87), Ethan Brierley, Max Clark
Subs not used: Brad Kelly, Aidy White, Alex Newby, Liam Kelly, Danny Cashman