Exeter City picked up a 1-1 draw against Newport County at Rodney Parade in Sky Bet League Two.
by Ben Strange 

Despite going ahead after 15 minutes through Lee Martin, City were pegged back by a Tristan Abrahams penalty in the second period and battled to take a point away from south Wales.

The Grecians made two changes to the side that started the 2-0 win over Port Vale in midweek as Lee Martin and Randell Williams came into the side.

It was City who started brightly in the opening seven minutes, first when Pierce Sweeney found Lee Martin, whose dangerous cross had to be pushed away by Tom King, before Nicky Law cut to the by-line before seeing his effort turned behind for a corner.

Sweeney was in the thick of the action again on 11 minutes when he rose excellently at the far post to meet Williams’ corner, and the Irishman’s effort forced a smart save out of King in the County goal.

City made their early dominance pay when they took the lead on 15 minutes. After a corner had to be retaken, Williams delivered a superb cross which evaded everyone in the box, but for Martin, who tapped home from close range to make it 1-0.

The home side then created an opportunity for themselves when a ball down the right managed to evade Tom Parkes, and Jamille Matt poked an effort at goal, but for Lewis Ward who saved well.

Newport began to get more of a foothold in the game as the half wore one, and Ward was once again called upon when Matt knocked the ball down well for Joss Labadie to fire low, but for an excellent reaction save from the City keeper as the Grecians took a narrow advantage into the break.

It was the home side that would have the first chance of the second period when they counter-attacked and substitute, and former Grecian, Tristan Abrahams managed to get in behind before crossing for Matt to fire first time just wide of goal.

More pressure would follow for the home side as the Grecians were forced to defend as Kyle Howkins saw his effort blocked by Parkes before Labadie’s follow-up effort sailed over Ward’s goal.

Newport would then be awarded a penalty when Parkes unfortunately slipped, and whilst attempting to clear whilst on the floor, was penalised for a foul on Josh Sheehan. It was to be Abrahams who would step up to take the penalty and he converted calmly past Ward.

A chance then fell for Dean Moxey on 78 minutes when Jake Taylor managed to keep a City corner alive, and it fell to the defender who was unable to keep his effort on target.

Jayden Richardson's tenacious running then almost earned City an opportunity after he managed to dispossess King in the County goal in stoppage time, but for the Newport defence just managed to clear in the nick of time to prevent the youngster from getting a shot away.

Newport County: King, Haynes, Labadie, Howkins, Willmott, Amond (Abrahams, 45), Sheehan, Matt (Dolan 75), Bennett, Whitely (Poleon, 79), O’Brien
Subs not used: Townsend, McNamara, Nurse, Maloney
Booked: Sheehan

Exeter City: Ward, Sweeney, L. Martin, Law (A. Martin, 64), Williams (Richardson, 54), Bowman, Parkes, Moxey, Sparkes, Taylor, Collins
Subs not used: Maxted, Woodman, A. Martin, Jay, Fisher, Seymour
Booked: Parkes, Law, Collins

Attendance: 4,762 (Inc, 736, away)