Newport County played out a dramatic 2-2 draw with Crewe Alexandra in front of a packed Rodney Parade on the final day of the 2022/23 League Two season.
The visitors took the lead early in the second half courtesy of a long range strike from Rio Adebisi.
However, the Exiles came back to level the score after Charlie McNeill was brought down in the area and Omar Bogle slotted home with a cooly taken spot-kick.
Bogle made it two for himself and for County in stoppage time, with McNeill again giving him a helping hand with the assist for the number nine to prod home.
But Crewe's star player Lachlan Brook cut inside to fire home with a powerful left-footed just seconds later to mean the points were shared.
Newport’s new-look formation created its first chance inside a minute when Aaron Wildig fed Will Evans, who swung in a curling cross that was just out of Bogle’s reach.
Daniel Agyei had a brilliant chance inside two minutes to open the scoring, getting on the end of Chris Long’s deep cross but hitting the ball up rather than into the net.
Just seconds later Kiban Rai found Bogle just outside the six-yard area and despite bringing the ball under control couldn’t get a shot away under pressure.
Newport goalkeeper Nick Townsend then had to be at full stretch to deny Agyei, who beat two County defenders before curling a superb shot toward the top left, where Townsend just tipped it onto the crossbar.
A new-look Aaron Lewis went on a driving run in the 19th minute, playing a neat one-two with Rai before striking at goal, although the volley lacked conviction.
As we edged towards half time, Newport caused some trouble with counter-attacking football through Scot Bennett and Cameron Norman.
The former drove with the ball toward the penalty area before releasing Bogle who saw a shot blocked, while Norman’s shot from the right side of the area was well saved by Tom Booth.
Agyei was a danger all afternoon and tested Townsend once again just before half time, but his shot took a nick off a County boot and made it a more comfortable save.
Bogle had a late first-half header save after meeting Wildig’s cross, however, it was straight at Booth.
Crewe took the lead with a fabulous trike on 56 minutes, with inverted full-back Adebisi cutting in on his left to whip a curled effort into the far corner.
The Exiles nearly found the perfect response after another neat move just seconds after conceding. Norman’s lovely ball found the run of substitute McNeill, who drove into the penalty area with menace.
The loanee found Lewis, who picked out Evans in space at the far stick, but he volleyed off target.
Fellow introduction Calum Kavanagh had a chance just on the hour mark, meeting a teasing through ball with a hopeful effort from a tight angle, that didn’t trouble the onrushing ‘keeper.
Crewe nearly doubled the lead a few minutes after, with some neat play in midfield releasing the effervescent Lachlan Brook. With his left foot, he sent a fizzed cross-shot to the far post that missed the target, and the stretching Courtney Baker-Richardson.
Bogle tried his luck from a free-kick from 25 yards out on 64 minutes, and despiting connecting well, saw the ball fly a yard or so over.
James waite nearly made an immediate impact off the bench, beating an Alexandra defender to the ball before striking at goal, but he was denied by a brilliant sliding block, with the ball finding Bogle who slipped at the last before shooting.
Brook then hit the post with a ferocious shot 73 minutes in with Townsend well beaten.
McNeill played a neat flick to Waite not long after, and after making a late run into the box, picked it up before being brought down to earn County a penalty.
Bogle stepped up and as he so often does, found the net from the spot, rolling it into the bottom right corner and sending the ‘keeper the wrong way.
Kavanagh was put through by Bogle in the 85th minute and despite racing through on goal, saw his left-footed effort saved by Booth.
Then deep in stoppage time County thought they had won it, with Bogle's close range finish after a great bit of play from McNeill to set it up.
But Crewe levelled it up again straight from kick-off, with Brook getting a deserved goal after cutting in to fire home.
Newport County XI: Townsend (GK), Norman, Baker, Demetriou (c), Evans, Bennett(Moriah-Welsh, 69’) , Charsley (McNeill, 54’), Wildig, Rai (Kavanagh, 54’), Lewis (Waite, 69’), Bogle.
Subs not used: Day (GK), Bowen, Stokes.
Crewe Alexandra XI: Booth (GK), Adebisi (Colkett, 78’), O’Riordan, Offord (c), Finney, Thomas (Uwakwae, 65’), Finnigan (Griffiths, 78’), Brook, Long (Tabiner, 53’), Baker-Richardson (Williams, 78’), Agyei.
Subs not used: Richards (GK), Billington.
Referee: Anthony Backhouse
Assistant referee: Daniel Flynn
Assistant referee: Lisa Rashid
Fourth official: Kevin Howick