Priestley Farquharson's goal 11 minutes into the second half earned us a share of the spoils at Grimsby.
John McAtee put the Mariners ahead in the first half, but Farquharson's goal from a corner meant both sides left Blundell Park with a point.
County went close twice in the opening 10 minutes, as Calum Kavanagh had a close-range half volley from the right of the six-yard box saved well by Grimsby keeper Max Crocombe in the game's first chance.
Omar Bogle almost bagged against his former club soon after, once a Kavanagh and Harryv Charsley link-up led to the latter playing in Bogle who was well denied by the diving save by Crocombe in the one-on-one opportunity.
Newport kept up the admirable start when Mickey Demetriou headed narrowly wide after Aaron Lewis' whipped-in free-kick from the right just after the quarter-hour mark.
Grimsby captain Luke Waterfall had a similar chance, as he too headed wide after Gavan Holohan's ball in from the right of the penalty area.
The Mariners did take the lead in the 36th minute though when John McAtee looped a half-volley over Joe Day and into the back of the net for 1-0.
County started the second half perfectly though, by levelling the contest 11 minutes after the restart when Farquharson got the crucial touch to meet Aaron Lewis' corner from the left.
The hosts tried to restore their lead within the same minute, but George Lloyd could only shoot wide of the right post from a tight angle.
Nathan Moriah-Welsh fashioned a good opening for himself 20 minutes from time, although his low strike from the edge of the box was well grabbed by a diving Crocombe who got down well to his left.
What followed was a flurry of shots over, with Bogle and Harry Clifton each finding the stands with ambitious strikes from a long way out within a minute of each other, before Smith volleyed over from close range after a cross from the left.
Both teams would get one last chance at the end, as Moriah-Welsh had a curled effort from the right of the box caught by Crocombe while Joe Day made a game-saving keep out with his boot low to his left to deny Ryan Taylor from inside the box.
Grimsby Town: Max Crocombe, Michee Efete, Anthony Glennon (Danny Amos '83), Luke Waterfall (C), Josh Emmanuel (Ryan Taylor '61), Gavan Holohan, George Lloyd (Otis Khan '83), John McAtee (Danilo Orsi '83), Harry Clifton, Evan Khouri (Andy Smith '61), Niall Maher
Subs not used: Alex Hunt, Mikey O'Neil
Newport County: Joe Day, Matt Baker, Priestley Farquharson, Mickey Demetriou (C), Cameron Norman, Aaron Lewis, Scot Bennett, Nathan Moriah-Welsh, Harry Charsley, Omar Bogle (Will Evans '83), Calum Kavanagh (Charlie McNeill '83)
Subs not used: Nick Townsend, James Clarke, Aaron Wildig, James Waite, Kiban Rai