Stevenage 3, Newport County 3
New boy Shawn McCoulsky made a breathtaking Newport County debut off the substitutes bench.
The striker, signed on loan from Bristol City, struck with an injury time equaliser in County’s League Two match at Stevenage.
McCoulsky scored 31 goals last season and struck gold again after being sent on with 22 minutes left.
Newport battled back from 1-0 and 3-1 down to earn a point.
Frank Nouble, Mickey Demetriou and McCoulsky were the scorers.
Manager Michael Flynn will be disappointed with some of the defensive lapses, but delighted with the fighting spirit and character running through his squad.
Robbie Willmott was right wing-back for County at Lamex Stadium, but they fell behind when Scott Bennett and goalkeeper Joe Day failed to communicate properly and Tom Pett was able to run through and score into an empty net.
County were trailing 1-0 at half-time, but that looked a lopsided scoreline at the time.
The visitors fired in nine shots to there from Stevenage and there ere plenty of positive signs for Newport.
Matt Dolan hit a post with a left-footed shot from a free-kick only for Nouble to blaze his shot over from close range. Double, though, looked a danger and went close twice before the break.
Sean Rigg had a shot blocked, while Lamar Reynolds forced a save from the Stevenage goalkeeper.
Newport went behind after 11 minutes when Tom Pett scored with a right foot shot from the centre of the penalty area, but they were unfortunate to be losing going into the second half.
Man of the match Matt Dolan caught the eye, while Nouble and Lamar Reynolds worked well together.
Nouble equalised after 55 minutes, stabbing in from close range, but they went behind again from a penalty just after the hour.
Bennett brought Luke Wilkinson down and Dale Gorman scored from the spot-kick (61 minutes).
Soon after McCoulsky replaced Bennett – and that proved an inspired decision by Flynn.
Danny Newton made it 3-1 after 72 minutes and County looked down and out, but they fought hard to hit back.
Mickey Demetriou fired home from 25 yards to give Newport a second goal and then they sent on Tom Owen-Evans for Joss Labadie.
Newport pressed hard and McCoulsky forced the ball home four minutes into injury time to earn a point for his team.
It was a team performance full of energy and desire from County, but Flynn will be analysing those defensive lapses with his players as soon as possible.
Stevenage: Fryer, Henry, Franks, Wilkinson, J Martin, Pett, Beautyman, Gorman (King 78), McKee (Godden 64), Samuel (Whelpdale 64), Newton. Subs not used: Turgott, Day, Conlon, Vancooten.
Newport County: Day, Butler (Jahraldo-Martin 90), O’Brien, Bennett (McCoulsky 68), Demetriou, Willmott, Labadie, capt (Owen-Evans 78), Dolan, Rigg, Nouble, Reynolds
Subs not used: Pipe, White, Williams, Bittner.
Referee: Martin Coy.
