Revived County might have been rocked by a couple of sucker punches, but new boss Christian Fuch's attacking gospel shone through as a beacon of hope was raised in the Austrian's Rodney Park curtain-raiser writes Anthony Rees.
Three precious points and a first home League victory in 259 days for the upbeat Exiles appeared to be on the cards as scintillating strikes from defender Anthony Glennon and battering ram raider Courtney Baker-Richardson flew into the Barrow net, in either half.
But the battling Cumbrians twice drew level through Ben Whitfield and Scott Smith's late score to leave stunned County still searching for that first elusive home League Two victory since mid-March. Yet, a roaring Amber Army will acknowledge that a foundation for sanctuary can be built on displays such as this.
Fuchs' first home selection saw a positional tweak - Cameron Evans moving from a midfield holding position to right back. There was a return for ex-Cardiff City linkman Cameron Antwi, with left-footed Michael Spellman slotting into a wide right-side attacking spot.
The Port's management had installed an abundance of offensive intent on the County bench. Borrowed Leicester City raider Nathan Opuku had recovered from injury, sitting alongside Kai Whitmore and exciting Exile Academy graduate Moses Alexander-Walker.
County had a full bench of seven options, not so the visiting Bluebirds who had only five substitutes. Barrow, who were making the mammoth 550-mile round trip to south Wales, had altered their line-up - captain Niall Canavan took his place in centre defence, attacker Isaac Fletcher and Smith coming into a new-look set up.
An Exile fan had gifted Newport chief Fuchs a magic wand before kick off and snarling County were showing their teeth in the opening moments of this clash.
The speedy Bobby Kamwa was stretching Barrow's rear guard at every opportunity. The former Burton winger raced between Whitfield and the panicking Charlie Raglan troubling Bluebirds' stopper Ben Winterburn at his near post.
Flying Kamwa was being found by a cluster of pinpoint diagonal passes from Evans and the buzzing Man of the Match Sammy Braybrook. Although it was Gerard Garner's sublime ball threaded between MJ Williams and Canavan that set up Spellman, the ex-Sunderland player's shot rebounding off Winterman's foot after he had sped through.
The Exiles were, though, deservedly ahead on 38 minutes. Braybrook was clattered on the edge of the area by Williams, Glennon stepping up to curl a majestic left-footed free kick past Winterbottom's right hand.
It was the former Barrow loanee's first County goal in 45 matches, but any home joy was extinguished a minute before the break - Whitfield's angled finish snaking into the net, Canavan's long ball somehow catching the Exiles cold.
Fuchs gesticulated positively at his charges from the technical area. Barrow creaked once more on 58 minutes. Braybrook exchanged passes with Kamwa from a shortened corner, leaping Spellman's header just cleared by the giant frame of Canavan.
Yet Canavan could do little to stop his Bluebirds being breached three minutes after the hour. Blonde-haired borrowed Leicester schemer Braybrooke fed Baker-Richardson, whose crisp right-foot finish screamed past a rooted Winterbottom - the big striker's 42nd goal in 218 appearances.
County were stirring again as the clocked clicked on. Glennon provided the decoy, for speedster Kamwa to roast Raglan and test Winterbottom once more.
Exile stopper Jordan Wright had clasped a rising drive from Bluebirds' substitute Connor Mahoney, but he was helpless seven minutes from the death as unmarked Smith rose to nod he visitors level again - from close range.
Fuchs continued to urge County forward, despite the hammer blow, and referee Carl Brook gazed on, but rebuffed, two decent late separate Exile penalty shouts with Garner and substitute Nathan Opoku leading the appeals.
Newport County [4-4-2]
Jordan Wright
Cameron Evans
Lee Jenkins [C]
Akin Odimayo
Anthony Glennon
Bobby Kamwa
Cameron Antwi
Sammy Braybrooke
Michael Spellman
Courtney Baker-Richardson
Gerard Garner
Subs
Nik Tzanev
Habeeb Ogunneye
Ben Lloyd for Spellman 68 mins
Nathaniel Opuku for Baker-Richardson 75mins
Kai Whitmore
Ciaran Brennan
Moses Alexander-Walker
Barrow [3-4-2-1]
Ben Winterbottom
Niall Canavan [C]
Charlie Raglan
MJ Williams
Elliott Newby
Charlie McCann
Rekeem Harper
Ben Whitfield
Scott Smith
Isaac Fletcher
Kane Hemmings
Subs
Mike Adu-Poku for Hemmings 68 mins
Jack Earling for Fletcher 65mins
Connor Mahoney for Harper 76mins
David Worrell
Tom Barkhiuzen for Newby 64 mins
Not Names
Not Named
Referee: Carl Brook
Assistant Referees: Marcus Carmichael & Daniel D'Urso
Fourth Official: Samuel Fudge
Attendance 3,624 [visiting fans 82] ]
