NEWPORT County AFC manager Michael Flynn suffered a frustrating Friday night as his side were held to a 1-1 draw by struggling Port Vale at Rodney Parade.

Matty Dolan gave County the lead on 54 minutes with his first goal for the club but substitute Anton Forrester levelled on 80 minutes to earn his side a point.

“I’m frustrated, it’s two points thrown away,” said Flynn.

“We were the better team, without being at our best, and we’ve just given them one of the softest goals I’ve seen.

“It was poor and we didn’t create enough clear-cut chances.

“They came for a point and they got to it, fair play to them but we were the better team,” he added.

“We knew how they were going to play. They were going to make it horrible, ugly, hit [Tom] Pope and try to get second balls.

“And, to be fair, they dealt with him very well because he is a handful.

“It’s just a shame that we conceded the goal we did.

“If one of their players goes and puts one in the top corner from 30 yards you’ve got to take it on the chin, but not that.

“They’ve scored straight from our cross. There was no talking from the defenders and they were free in the box.”

County could have climbed to fifth in the League Two table with a win but instead they remain eighth ahead of their rivals’ matches on Saturday.

“I think we deserved the three points but you don’t get everything you deserve in football, and if you concede like that then maybe you don’t deserve the three points,” said Flynn.

“It’s a point, we haven’t lost and we were the better team.

“I’m not concerned about what position we’re in at the moment, we’ve started well and I know I’ll get a reaction next week.

“The boys’ effort and work rate was fantastic, it’s just a shame that we conceded such a poor goal.”