Ten-man County cheated logic as they emphatically hauled their League Two survival mission back on track to stun promotion-chasing Crewe at the Mornflake Stadium writes Anthony Rees,
The Exiles, who levelled twice after the break through a James Connolly own goal and Cameron Antwi's strike three minutes into added time, had also seen energetic target man Courtney Baker-Richardson sent packing for two separate yellow card incidents just after the hour.
The slick hosts had breached Port with a brace of strikes through top marksman Emre Tezgel early on and substitute Josh March late - but defeat would have been rough justice on the Port who were superbly led by 36-year-old skipper James Clarke and his defensive colleague Lee Jenkins, midfielder Sammy Braybrooke also prompting brilliantly throughout an intriguing contest.
Former Cardiff man Antwi had a claim for both Newport goals as even though the dreadlocked Londoner's second strike was rifled into the net, his first too was goal-bound, but did take a wicked deflection off Connolly.
The result stemmed two successive league reverses on the road and lifts County to within four points of safety in the section basement - with a date against Fleetwood at Rodney Parade looming on Saturday.
Exiles boss Christian Fuchs made comprehensive changes to the side hammered in the FA Cup Second Round at National Conference Boreham Wood last Sunday.
Jordan Wright returned in goal and there was a completely new back four - Cameron Evans and Anthony Glennon coming into the right and left back spots, Clarke and Jenkins were the centre backs. Goal hero Antwi partnered excellent Braybrooke in central midfield, while Michael Spellman supported the front pairing of Baker-Richardson and Gerard Garner.
The Railwaymen sitting in mid-table, but within a victory of the play-off places, replaced injured centre-back James Golding with Jay Mingi - Max Sanders coming in for Charlie Finney, who dropped to the bench.
A clever exchange of midfield passes from Antwi and Spellman saw Braybrook storming through the centre after only 10 minutes, the borrowed Leicester man dragging his 20-yard right-footer wide.
Once again, though, the Port, with the third leakiest rear guard in the Football League, paid the penalty for yet another unforced error 60 seconds later. Antwi was careless in possession, which allowed the impressive Tommi O'Reilly to thread through for an advancing Tezgel to easily beat Wright with a chipped finish.
It was the on-loan Stoke youngster's 11th goal of the season - a third in four games and after Evans had blocked Calum Agius' blast, County almost collapsed again on 20 minutes. Wright sprang to his left, diverting O'Reilly's low drive and from the ensuing uncleared corner, Owen Lunt's long-range rocket screeched fractionally over the bar.
The battered Exiles must have been reflecting on a half they had been largely over run. Yet, the men from Gwent were dramatically level, three minutes into the restart. Cutting in from the left; Ben Lloyd saw his effort rebound off Crewe keeper Tom Booth - the home gloveman rooted as Antwi's power packed follow up took a significant deflection off Connolly as it flashed past him into the net.
The amazing contest was twisting again on 63 minutes as County raider was sent off by referee Edward Duckworth for making a high contact on Connolly, it was a second yellow for the former Crewe striker having been booked for a crude challenge on stopper Booth in first half added time.
The incident had seemingly altered the fate of a game that the Port had fought so hard to claw back into. The Railwaymen were storming through at every opportunity. Wright made outstanding stops from Finney, Tezgel and substitute Dion Rankine, but the County custodian was unable to prevent March from bundling home from point blank range on 77 minutes.
Still County's blue shirts searched for a route back. and deservedly found one, three minutes into added time - Crewe fatally not clearing frantic Exile pressure, Antwi flashing a raking cross shot past the distraught Booth.
Crewe Alexandra [4-2-3-1]
Tom Booth
Lewis Billington
James Connolly
Jay Mingi
Reece Hutchinson
Owen Lunt
Conor Thomas
Max Sanders
Tommi O'Reilly
Calum Agius
Emre Tezgel
Subs
Sam Waller [GK]
Charlie Finney for Mingi 56mins
Dion Rankine for Agius 76mins
Phil Croker
Josh March for Lunt 63 mins
Adrien Thibaut
Stan Dancey
Newport County [4-4-2]
Jordan Wright
Cameron Evans
James Clarke [C]
Lee Jenkins
Anthony Glennon
Ben Lloyd
Cameron Antwi
Sammy Braybrooke
Michael Spellman
Courtney Baker-Richardson
Gerard Garner
Subs
Nik Tzanev [GK]
Ciaran Brennan
Bobby Kamwa
Joe Thomas for Evans 86mins
Kai Whitmore for Lloyd 86 mins
Tom Davies for Spellman 75 mins
Nathan Opoku for Garner 71 mins
Referee: Edward Duckworth
Assistants: Grant Taylor & Declan Ford
Fourth Official: Daniel Robinson
Attendance 3895 [ Exiles fans 150 not confirmed by CAFC] ]