Newport County drew 0-0 away to Colchester United on Saturday in League Two but were unlucky not to leave with all three points.
The Exiles had their opponents penned in for most of the second half, with Mickey Demetriou seeing a late effort kept out brilliantly by the diving Kieran O'Hara with the ball heading for the far corner.
Colchester started brightly and Connor Wood had a brilliant chance inside two minutes that flashed just wide after good work from Junior Tchamadeu.
A corner kick from Matt Jay on four minutes caused problems for the Newport backline. Hall met it with a flick on at the near post, but it was easily gathered by Joe Day.
Hall was involved again but for the wrong reasons seconds later, sliding in with a dangerous tackle on Cameron Norman, it was only deemed a yellow, though.
Omar Bogle wasted a big chance on 24 minutes, receiving Norman’s deep delivery at the back post only to mis-control it right in from of the target.
Arthur Read took aim with a free-kick just outside the area minutes later, whipping over the wall with his left foot, with Day tipping it over the bar.
County had a big chance at the start of the second half, after Will Evans put an inviting ball in, Harry Charsley had a swing at it before Charlie McNeill’s effort was blocked.
The hosts counter-attacked when Samson Tovide ran past James Clarke to go one on one. He rounded the goalkeeper only to send it into the side netting.
They threatened again on 56 minutes, with Read swinging a cross into the area for Tom Hopper to attack, Demetriou did well to put him off his header.
McNeill nearly netted from an outrageous attempt shortly after, plucking the ball from the air before turning on the edge of the area, he then volleyed at goal but with the ‘keeper scrambling saw his shot drift narrowly over.
Bogle had another decent opportunity just after the hour mark, with Demetriou finding him with a brilliant cross, however, he couldn’t bring it under his spell in front of the posts.
Read did brilliantly to beat Scot Bennett at the other end, twisting and turning before finding space, but his curled effort from the box sailed well over.
Noah Chilvers was next to take aim and nearly picked out the bottom left corner with a low drive from the right hand side of the area, it flew just past the post.
Substitute John Akinde got his first sight of goal on 67 minutes, but failed with a lobbed attempt on Day, but it was well read and easily caught.
Demetriou stepped out of defence to strike one from distance just after, with the Colchester ‘keeper stretching to keep out the goal bound attempt.
An Aaron Wildig corner found Bogle in the 84th minute, but after a great touch to bring it down, the frontman’s fierce shot was blocked on the goal line.
From a corner kick Demetriou met a cross to the front post from substitute Aaron Lewis, the centre-back improvised to heel-flick it goalwards only for Kieran O’Hara to stretch out a heroic arm.
The last big catch came when Norman beat his man down the right flank and drilled an inviting cross into the area, it looked like for all the world Will Evans would tap home, but the ball was cleared away at the last.
Colchester United XI: O’Hara (GK), Tchamadeu, Chambers, Kelleher, Hall (Smith, 85’), Wood, Read (Ashley, 85’), Hopper, Jay (Fevrier, 78’), Tovide (Akinde, 63’), Hopper (Sears, 85’).
Subs not used: Tom Smith (GK), Tommy Smith, Newby, Sears.
Newport County XI: Day (GK), Norman, Baker, Clarke, Demetriou (c), Evans, Bennett, Wildig (Lewis, 85’), Charsley (Moriah-Welsh, 85’), Bogle, McNeill (Kavanagh, 85’).
Subs not used: Townsend (GK), Drysdale, Waite, Rai.
Referee: Martin Woods
Fourth official: Ryan Whitaker
Assistant referee: Andrew Laver
Assistant referee: Michael George