Newport battled to a point at Rochdale, with Adam Lewis' early second half free-kick providing the goal for County.
After starting the game well, Rochdale took the lead 10 minutes before the break through Devante Rodney but Adam Lewis' free-kick a minute into the second half ensured both teams took a point from the game at Spotland.
Rochdale were in the ascendancy from the word go, as James Ball's bursting run in the opening seconds led to Rodney shooting into the arms of Joe Day within a minute of kick-off.
Danny Lloyd also went close for the hosts in the opening exchanges, but he too was denied by Day after being played in by Liam Kelly's through ball.
County's first chance of the game came in the 12th minute, but Scot Bennett could only fire a half-volley wide of the post from the edge of the box after Cameron Norman's cross was only cleared into his path.
We went much closer a minute later though when Omar Bogle's powerful header from inside the area was impressively beaten away by Rochdale keeper Richard O'Donnell.
Our good spell continued with our third chance in three minutes, but like Bennett before him, Nathan Moriah-Welsh sent a half-volley wide of the Rochdale goal.
Kelly then shot over the bar for Rochdale as the home side tried to re-establish the foothold on the game.
And that arrived in the 34th minute when Rodney lashed home the opener from 20 yards, giving Day no chance as the ball nestled into the bottom right corner.
Rochdale easily could have made it 2-0 a minute later, but Kelly somehow contrived to miss an open goal from close range.
Before the half closed, Lloyd would have a shot from the edge of the box saved comfortably by Day.
County had a dream start to the second half though when, just a minute in, Adam Lewis' whipped free-kick from the right seemed to go all the way in without a touch to level the scores.
That goal couldn't alter the momentum though, as Rochdale had the better chances to get ahead.
Day needed to be at full stretch to brilliantly push away Rodney's header from Kelly's free-kick from the left and Aidy White shot out for a throw in from a chance that looked dangerous on the left of the box.
Lloyd was denied by Day for a third time as his free-kick was pushed away from the County keeper before the hosts had a goal disallowed for half-time.
Newport could've won it in the dying embers too, but Cameron Norman was superbly denied by O'Donnell with his effort after he brought down a long ball with his chest.
Rochdale: Richard O'Donnell, Femi Seriki, Aidy White, Ethan Ebanks-Landell (C), Liam Kelly (Abraham Odoh '79), James Ball (Toumani Diagouraga '69), Devante Rodney (Tyrese Sinclair '88), Jimmy Keohane, Sam Graham, Scott Quigley (Ian Henderson '69), Danny Lloyd (Tahvon Campbell '88)
Subs not used: Brad Kelly, Max Taylor
Newport County: Joe Day, Priestley Farquharson, Declan Drysdale, Mickey Demetriou (C), Cameron Norman, Adam Lewis, Scot Bennett (Aaron Wildig '45), Aaron Lewis, Nathan Moriah-Welsh, Omar Bogle (Will Evans '64), Offrande Zanzala (Lewis Collins '75)
Subs not used: Nick Townsend, James Clarke, Sam Bowen, James Waite