Thurrock continued to have all the chances and Akurang was having joy down the right wing, arguably his best position. Newport did nearly break and score though, when Moralee’s volley went inches over the bar. Thurrock went straight back on the attack and Jones nearly scored a disastrous own goal when he flicked a header inches past the post with Freestone well beaten. From the resulting corner Hodges’ shot was just over after a short Collis corner. Thurrock took the lead a minute before half time. Akurang’s dazzling skills sent Phillips in a spin and the full back cynically chopped him down after getting frustrated with his inability to get to the ball. TK’s penalty was blasted hard and low and gave Freestone no chance. Thurrock just had to hold on till half time and looked like they would do it until current Welsh international Jason Bowen beat Goodfellow and crossed deep, Moralee rose above Collis and headed down and past the stranded Gothard.

 The second half started with Newport on the attack. Gothard missed a corner but recovered well to save the resulting shot. Nathan Davies was unlucky with a long range effort that went just wide. The first goalscoring opportunity for Thurrock came halfway through the half. A deep corner from Collis was headed at goal by Kirby. An excellent save by Freestone denied him but Martin should have done better with the rebound but shot well over from three yards. With fifteen minutes to go the game looked like it was about to get nasty when Davies was booked for a nasty challenge on Heffer which saw the players have a little wrestle. The inevitable response came three minutes later, when Heffer was booked for a catching the legs of Aherne-Evans.

          With the game looking like ending 1-1 Cliff Akurang went on a mazy 50 yard run which ended with a good save by Freestone. With two minutes remaining a nasty two footed foul by Davies left him lucky to still be on the pitch, but Hodges punished the foul anyway with a splendid 25 yard free kick into the top corner. Thurrock dropped very deep and looked under immense pressure. Jimmy McFarlane relieved the pressure with a splendid clearing header. This, however, only led to a corner, which was headed goalwards and was only denied by Collis on the line. This appeared to have secured the points but after a needless foul 30 yards from goal Darren Jones drilled in a splendid equalizer to give Newport a share of the points.

 Man of the Match: Tresor Kandol

 Thurrock: Gothard, Collis, Goodfellow, McFarlane©, Purdie, Akurang (Lawrence 89), Kirby, Heffer, Hodges (Davidson 90), Martin (Goddard 82), Kandol.