MATCH REPORT: NEWPORT COUNTY VS CRAWLEY

Goals in last 10 minutes from Matt Dolan and Offrande Zanzala saw County earn a comeback draw at home to Crawley.

Two goals from Dom Telford put Crawley 2-0 up at Rodney Parade, but headers from Dolan and Zanzala in the closing stages dragged the scores level to 2-2.

Crawley came flying out of the blocks and had a decent chance early on, with Priestley Farquharson’s interception falling to Nick Tsaroulla, however he blazed a shot over the bar.

Newport responded well though and nearly went in front on four minutes. Omar Bogle picked out the run in behind from Will Evans, but after taking a touch to steady himself, saw his right-footed finish saved by Ellery Balcombe.

County were in behind again a few minutes later. Cameron Norman this time fed Evans, who looked up to see Bogle charging into the box, but a Crawley defender nipped in to clear before Bogle could put County ahead.

Bogle went close himself moments later, bringing down a high ball under pressure before shifting it onto his right foot, the effort deflected just over the top right-hand corner.

Brandon Mason nearly opened the scoring with a thunderbolt from the edge of the area in the 20th minute.

He picked it up on the right-hand side of the edge of the area, releasing a fierce shot that whistled just past the top-left corner.

Aaron Lewis, again deployed as a centre midfielder, shot narrowly wide after winning the ball high up the pitch before striking at goal.

Crawley took the lead though after Telford got the final touch on the goalline following Ludwig Francillette's shot from a corner that Telford touched home.

Tom Fellows almost made it two not long after, but one-on-one with Joe Day it was the County stopper who came out on top.

Evans tested Balcombe just before the break with a header from the penalty spot but it was easily held by the visitors’ goalkeeper.

The Red Devils looked for a second and Mason’s whipped through ball was just out of the reach of Oteh, before Fellows was once again denied by Day.

Zanzala nearly made an instant impact after coming off the bench but was denied by a smart save down to his left by Balcombe, after Zanzala had cut in and hit a wicked low drive.

Telford wasted a good chance just before the 60-minute mark. He was teed up by Oteh but hit a tame, side-footed shot which Day collected comfortably.

Norman had a great chance to equalise from a set-piece up the other end. Adam Lewis sent in the perfect cross, with Norman meeting it full on inside the six-yard box, only to see it fly over.

Balcombe was at full stretch to keep out Aaron Lewis moments later, with the central midfielder meeting Bogle’s lay off with a firm side foot shot, but the Crawley stopper was at his best to keep it out.

The visitors were awarded a penalty on 65 minutes when Tsaroullah cut inside and got brought down just inside the area. Telford stepped up to make it two.

Telford saw a point-blank header stopped by Day with 15 minutes remaining after intercepting a back-pass courtesy of Farquharson’s head.

Dolan headed County back into contention on 83 minutes with a fine finish which gave the 'keeper absolutely no chance.

Dolan had Balcombe worried again on 88 minutes, hitting a sweet free-kick towards the near post which needed fisting away.

Crawley could do nothing to prevent the next attack though as Zanzala headed in a dangerous corner delivery to send the home fans into raptures.

Tempers flared up in injury time, with County boss Graham Coughlan shown a red card by referee Alan Young after a scuffle in the dugouts, as well as Crawley's recently appointed Darren Byfield.

Deep into stoppage time Declan Drysdale put in a brilliant sliding challenge after Tsaroullah had burst into the box and took aim for the bottom corner.

And with the final act of the match Telford was put through on goal only to dink it just over the bar to cap off a dramatic afternoon of League Two action.

Newport County XI: Day (GK), Norman, Drysdale, Farquharson, Demetriou (c) (Collins, 74’), Adam Lewis, Bennett (Dolan, 74’), Aaron Lewis, Waite (Wildig, 52’), Evans (Zanzala, 52’), Bogle (Willmott, 74’).

Subs not used: Townsend (GK), Bright.

Crawley Town XI: Balcombe (GK), Mason, Ransom, Francillette, Baligizi, Oteh (Powell, 61’), Tsaroullah, Kowalczyk, Jenks (Khaleel, 61’), Fellows, Chukwuemeka (Davis, 82').

Subs not used: Addai (GK), Johnson, Shubbar, Johnson.