FORMER Newport County AFC player Curtis McDonald headed home a 95th minute equaliser to force the Exiles into an FA Cup first round replay at Rodney Parade.

County looked to be in complete control at St James Park after first half goals from Lenell John-Lewis and Scot Bennett.

But Brackley Town skipper Luke Graham bundled in from a corner on the hour and John Sheridan’s men couldn’t hold on under heavy pressure from the Conference North outfit.

They avoided the fate of Football League rivals Bristol Rovers, Notts County, AFC Wimbledon, Crewe and Barnsley – all knocked out by non-league sides this weekend.

They are in the hat for the second round draw but Sheridan will be furious that his side threw away a two-goal cushion against a side some 45 places below them in the football pyramid.

County took charge early on, knocking the ball about confidently on a decent surface and creating chances from the off.

Tommy O’Sullivan played in Zak Ansah inside the opening 10 minutes and the striker forced Sam Hornby into a sharp save with his legs.

Defender Matt Partridge tested Hornby again with a speculative 35-yard effort before John-Lewis broke the deadlock on 15 minutes.

Captain Mark Byrne chipped into the box and John-Lewis controlled the ball before falling under a challenge from Brackley defender Pablo Mills.

The County number 10 slammed the spot kick past Hornby to give his side a deserved lead.

The Exiles’ superior passing and movement was too much for their National League North opponents and Jazzi Barnum-Bobb soon linked up with O’Sullivan, whose chipped effort landed on top of the net.

The Saints enjoyed a good spell of pressure around the half hour mark with Glenn Walker shooting just wide under pressure.

Joe Day was forced to punch clear a dangerous free-kick after Barnum-Bobb was booked for tugging back McDonald.

Bennett blocked two efforts and Byrne did superbly to track back and nick the ball off James Akintunde after a poor Partridge back pass.

But Sheridan’s men were comfortable for the most part and they got the second goal their first half display deserved courtesy of Bennett on 41 minutes.

The centre-back brought the ball out of defence, played a one-two with John-Lewis and picked himself up after a being tackled to calmly slot through Hornby's legs.

It was a classy goal that showed the gulf in class between these two sides, in the opening 45 minutes at least.

After the break Brackley showed plenty of spirit and caused the County defence more than a few nervy moments before the dramatic finale.

They got a goal back on the hour from the third of three successive corners.

Walker’s delivery was helped by the wind as it swirled around under Day’s bar.

The Exiles goalkeeper failed to deal with it and, after Barnum-Bobb had headed off the line, Brackley skipper Luke Graham was on hand to bundle the ball in on the line after a scramble.

The goal gave the hosts a big lift and, with a vociferous crowd behind them, they pushed hard for the leveller that would earn them a replay.

O’Sullivan sloppily lost possession in his own half, allowing Steve Diggin to test Day again with a curling effort.

At the other end substitute Scott Boden, who replaced John-Lewis at the break, went closest to extending the visitors’ lead.

The top scorer collected the ball from a corner and shot low and hard but Aidan Hawtin did superbly to clear off the line.

It looked like County would hold firm but McDonald’s header at the death sent the home fans wild and means the sides will meet again.

Brackley: Hornby, Hawtin (Smith, 90), McDonald, Clarke, Graham, Mills, Odhiambo (Moyo, 81), Walker (Winters, 81), Akintunde, Diggin, Batchelor

Subs not used: Austin, Morley, Farrell, Whittall

Booked: Hawtin

County: Day, Barnum-Bobb (Holmes, 74), Partridge, Bennett, Donacien, Barrow, Byrne, O’Sullivan (Rodman, 78), Elito, John-Lewis (Boden, 46), Ansah

Subs not used: Taylor, Collins, Klukowski, Green

Booked: Barnum-Bobb

Referee: Mark Haywood

Attendance: 1,707

Argus star man: Bennett