Newport County battled to a hard-fought 1-1 draw against ten-man Salford City at the Peninsula Stadium on Tuesday evening.
Former Salford player Shane McLoughlin gave the Exiles the lead in the 11th minute, converting a penalty after David Ajiboye was fouled in the box.
However, Salford responded quickly, with Hakeeb Adelakun equalising from the penalty spot after Liam Shephard was brought down by Kieron Evans.
Salford were reduced to ten men when midfielder Tyrese Fornah was sent off for a second yellow card with 15 minutes remaining, but Newport couldn’t take advantage, despite a golden chance through Bobby Kamwa late on.
Head coach Nelson Jardim made one change to the side that faced Swindon Town, with Josh Martin coming in for Kyle Hudlin.
The match started with intensity, as both teams tried to assert themselves early. The Ammies had the first opportunity when Lewis Warrington’s inswinging corner caused a misjudgement from County goalkeeper Nick Townsend, but Kylian Kouassi’s header was wide of the mark.
It didn’t take long for County to break the deadlock. Ajiboye’s electric run into the box was halted by a foul from Salford defender Curtis Tilt, allowing McLoughlin to step up and calmly slot the penalty into the centre of the goal.
The fast tempo continued, with Salford quickly finding their rhythm. Kouassi fired a right-footed shot that forced a diving save from Townsend. County had their own chances shortly after, with Kieron Evans threading a superb ball to Kai Whitmore, whose cut-back to Josh Martin saw the striker fire over the bar.
Salford’s response came in the 30th minute when a penalty was awarded for a foul on Liam Shephard by Evans. Adelakun made no mistake from the spot, levelling the score at 1-1. The Ammies continued to press, with Matthew Lund’s close-range volley being well saved by Townsend.
Ajiboye remained a constant threat for County, bursting into the box once more and rounding the keeper, only to see Bobby Kamwa’s follow-up saved by Salford's Jamie Jones. On the half-hour, Salford’s Fornah saw a shot flash just wide, and the half ended with both sides fighting hard for control.
Half-time
After the restart, the match settled into a scrappy affair, with neither team able to break through. Salford’s Kouassi delivered a clever ball to Berkoe, forcing Townsend into another brave save off his line.
The game’s defining moment came with 15 minutes left when Fornah received his second yellow card for a late challenge on James Clarke, leaving Salford down to ten men. Despite the numerical advantage, Newport couldn’t capitalise. Substitute Cole Stockton’s header from a Shephard cross went wide, and another Salford substitute, Josh Watson, saw his curled effort narrowly miss the target.
In the dying minutes, Newport pushed for a winner. A clever ball from Noah Mawene put Kamwa through on goal, but he was thwarted by a challenge from Salford defender Negru and couldn’t get past keeper Jones. Despite seven minutes of added time, neither side could find a decisive goal.
The match ended 1-1, with both teams sharing the spoils in a hard-fought encounter.
Newport County will return to Sky Bet League Two action on Saturday afternoon, hosting Barrow at 3pm.
Newport County: Townsend, C. Evans, Baker, Clarke (C), Davies (Glennon 72’), McLoughlin, Whitmore (Antwi 45’), K. Evans, Ajiboye (Baker-Richardson 82’), Martin (Mawene 83’), Kamwa.
Substitutes: Webb, Hudlin, Spellman.
Salford City: Jones, Shephard, Negru, Tilt, Berkoe (Mnoga 83’), Fornah, Warrington (Watson 83’), Lund, Taylor (Longelo 71’), Kouassi (Stockton 71’), Adelakun.
Substitutes: Young, Edwards, McAleny.
Attendance: 1,952 (107 away).