ALMOST there. Newport County AFC are nearly safe from relegation after a spirited showing against promotion hopefuls Oxford United to end their losing streak.

York City shocked Portsmouth to just about keep alive their slim hopes of a Great Escape but this point thanks to a Medy Elito screamer means realistically County won’t be caught by the Minstermen.

The Exiles are now nine points above York with just three games to play and a vastly superior goal difference.

Led out by the Tata steelworkers, Warren Feeney’s men finally showed some steel of their own and produced a performance to be proud of in an entertaining contest at Rodney Parade.

There was plenty of drama even before the game began with both sides losing a key man in the warm-up.

Alex Rodman had to be replaced by Yan Klukowski on the right of midfield, with young defender Liam Angel drafted onto the bench for the Exiles.

And there was a big blow for the visitors with League Two player of the year Kemar Roofe deemed not fit enough to start despite initially being named in the starting XI.

Jordan Bowery replaced Roofe but Oxford were down to only six substitutes before the match even started.

But Michael Appleton’s men, chasing automatic promotion and backed by a travelling crowd of more than a thousand, looked determined to prove they are not a one-man team.

Danny Hylton hit the post from a narrow angle in the ninth minute and Oxford were ahead thanks to Roofe’s deputy Bowery on 13 minutes.

It was too easy for the visitors as Chris Maguire knocked down a long ball into the path of the on-rushing Bowery and he passed it into the net with ease.

You would have heard the sigh from the home fans had it not been for the 1,040 fans in the away end going crazy.

We looked set for a depressingly familiar tale of woe for County and a seventh straight defeat.

But Elito had other ideas, picking up the ball on the edge of the area after a corner was half cleared and smashing it left-footed into the bottom right-hand corner of the net to silence the Oxford fans within a minute of the opener.

After a missed penalty on the opening day of the season and at least five shots against the woodwork throughout his 41 appearances it was a first goal in County colours for the enigmatic Congolese midfielder.

And you could see how much it meant to him as he raced to the bench to embrace Feeney, followed by nearly all of his teammates.

It was a big moment for the crowd as well, sparking them into life and creating a lively atmosphere.

Klukowski, who had picked up a leg injury minutes after the kick-off was forced off midway through the half and replaced by Tommy O’Sullivan as Feeney again reshuffled his midfield.

And, after an early misplaced pass, the Wales under-21 star grew into the game and helped County produce a determined display that belied their recent poor form.

He saw a fierce drive well held by Oxford goalkeeper Benjamin Buchel and there were also half chances for Lenell John-Lewis and Scott Barrow.

Oxford still looked a threat from long balls but Darren Jones and Andrew Hughes dealt well with the bombardment and the Exiles matched their opponents.

But they had goalkeeper Joe Day to thank for maintaining parity on 53 minutes.

Danny Holmes was booked and from the free-kick left of the 18-yard box Chey Dunkley looked to have bundled in Maguire’s cross almost on the line but Day pulled off a stunning save to claw it behind.

At the other end there was a flurry of chances for County around the hour mark.

Elito went down under a challenge from Buchel but the referee deemed that the goalkeeper had got to the ball first.

Then John-Lewis took too much time as he was put through down the middle and his shot was blocked and from the resulting corner a big scramble saw the ball cleared off the Oxford line.

Then the Exiles failed to take advantage of a four on two break as Barrow failed to read Scott Barrow’s pass and another chance was gone.

The fans felt John-Lewis was fouled by Buchel right on the edge of the area 15 minutes from time but again referee Gavin Ward was not interested.

Oxford could have had a penalty of their own 10 minutes from time but that would have been cruel on County.

They so nearly won all three points as Mark Byrne saw a half volley tipped onto the post and a point was the least they deserved for a much-improved display.

County: Day, Holmes, Jones, Hughes, Davies, Klukowski (O’Sullivan, 20), Byrne, Elito, Barrow, Boden, John-Lewis

Subs not used: Green, Angel, Coulibaly, Morgan, Owen-Evans, Partridge

Booked: Holmes, O’Sullivan

Referee: Gavin Ward

Attendance: 2,847 (1,040 Oxford)

Argus star man: John-Lewis