NEWPORT County AFC extended their unbeaten run to six games but there was little to celebrate in this deeply uninspiring stalemate with Grimsby Town.

Friday’s 0-0 draw with League Two leaders Doncaster Rovers was very much a point gained but this felt like two points dropped and an opportunity missed by Graham Westley’s men.

There was little to warm the hearts of the football romantics on Valentine’s Day as both sides struggled to create any meaningful chances.

A crowd of 1,868 – the lowest for a league game at Rodney Parade so far this season – tried their best to rouse the players but were offered little encouragement in return.

The Exiles did not look like scoring all evening but at least they did not concede and with Cheltenham Town and Hartlepool United losing they did at least make up some ground on their relegation rivals.

But late goals earned Notts County a draw against Exeter City and Leyton Orient a shock win at Plymouth Argyle to add to the frustration and leave Westley's men four points from safety with a game in hand.

There were two changes from the draw against Doncaster with Michael Flynn – Westley’s on field general – replacing Frenchman Maxime Blanchard in central midfield and Josh Sheehan recalled in favour of Aaron Williams.

Flynn, who was making his first start in League Two since May 2015, slotted in alongside Mitch Rose in front of the back three.

Sheehan played just behind the front two with Craig Reid pushed up to partner Ryan Bird in Williams’ absence.

The Swansea City starlet won a free-kick early on and hit the wall with his shot before Flynn blasted the rebound wide.

But anyone hoping his return to the starting XI would transform the County attack were disappointed as the hosts failed to create another chance of note in the first half.

There were half-hearted appeals for a penalty when Rose tumbled in the box and Bird swept a shot just off target after an attempted clearance was fortuitously deflected into the middle.

But otherwise Westley’s men looked devoid of ideas going forward and it was the visitors, thumped 5-0 at Crewe Alexandra, who looked the more threatening as the first half progressed.

Akwasi Asante sent a half volley just over the top of Joe Day’s bar on 31 minutes and Tom Bolarinwa went even closer just before the break when his free-kick came back off the post and into Day’s gloves.

David Pipe had to block a goalbound Danny Andrew update shortly afterwards and Day denied Sam Jones as the Exiles limped to the break just about on level terms.

The early stages of the second half offered even less entertainment value that the first period and both managers made changes after 20 turgid minutes.

Mariners boss Marcus Bignot, older brother of County defender Paul, made a double change and Westley replaced the hard working Craig Reid with another loanee from Swansea in the shape of Alex Samuel.

And Sheehan made way for Jaanai Gordon 15 minutes from time having failed to spark County into life on a lifeless pitch.

Dan Butler had an effort hacked clear in the penalty area late on and Rose skied a shot from distance in stoppage time.

At the other end Grimsby substitutes Adi Yussuf and Scott Vernon kept Darren Jones and Mark O’Brien busy.

But this was a game of such low quality that neither side deserved to take the three points.

County: Day, Jones, Nelson (Williams, 88), O’Brien, Pipe, Flynn, Rose, Sheehan (Gordon, 75), Butler, Reid (Samuel, 64), Bird

Subs not used: Bittner, Barnum-Bobb, Demetriou, Owen-Evans

Booked: Jones

Referee: John Busby

Attendance: 1,868 (199 Grimsby)

Argus star man: Jones