Nathan Moriah-Welsh's fine strike was not enough, as County were defeated 2-1 by Crawley Town.
James Tilley made it 1-0 five minutes before the break and Tony Craig doubled the hosts' lead in the 57th minute to condemn County to defeat.
Moriah-Welsh got a goal back for County 10 minutes from time but it was not enough to spark a comeback.
County had two good openings within two minutes each other as the game approached the quarter-hour mark. Omar Bogle swung in two crosses from the left with one being hacked clear and the other being just out of reach of Will Evans and Scot Bennett in the box.
Captain Matt Dolan came so close though when his free-kick was tipped onto the right post by Crawley keeper David Robson.
The following corner was worked well by Newport and it ended with Bogle having a bicycle kick attempt held by Robson.
Tilley struck wide from distance on the half-hour mark and soon after Tom Fellows fired just past the post after a jinking run from the left.
Forward Tilley broke the deadlock in the 40th minute though when he stroked into an open net after Fellows dodged a sliding Joe Day before setting up Tilley.
Scot Bennett struck narrowly wide of the right post for our final chance of the half.
Crawley started the second half on top as Nick Tsaroulla shot over the bar from outside the box before Day made a superb save to tip Tom Nichols' attempt over for a corner.
The home side did make it 2-0 in the 57th minute though after Craig's header from a right-sided free-kick flicked the ball into the left of the goal.
Bogle almost got us back in it soon after, but he shot over the bar from close range.
Moriah-Welsh had a great opportunity to make it 2-1 quarter of an hour from time, but his shot lacked power and direction as he curled into the arms of Robson after being picked out in plenty of space down the left.
Nothing about his goal lacked power or direction though as the Bournemouth loanee smashed an effort into the back of the net from the edge of the box to get us back in the game.
Fellow sub Thierry Nevers had a good attempt to level the game, but his shot from the edge of the box was saved by Robson after a neat passing move from County.
County pushed for the dramatic leveller late on, but it was to no avail and Crawley saw out the 2-1 win.
Crawley Town: David Robson, Dion Conroy, Tony Craig, James Tilley (Ludwig Francillette '90), Jack Powell, Tom Nichols (C), Ashley Nadesan (Dom Telford '65), Travis Johnson (George Francomb '65), Nick Tsaroulla, Tom Fellows (Aramide Oteh '72), Jake Hessenthaler
Subs not used: Corey Addai, Ben Wells, Rafiq Khaleel
Newport County: Joe Day, James Clarke, Matt Dolan (C) (Thierry Nevers '68), Mickey Demetriou, Cameron Norman, Aaron Lewis, Scot Bennett, Robbie Willmott (Nathan Moriah-Welsh '63), Aaron Wildig (Lewis Collins '75), Omar Bogle (Chanka Zimba '75), Will Evans
Subs not used: Nick Townsend, Declan Drysdale, Adam Lewis