With 17 minutes gone at St George's Park on Saturday, Steve Tate could gladly have throttled his blundering Newport troops.
Yet, come the final whistle, he admitted they deserved a giant pat on the back for clawing back to 2-2 against a Ryman Premier side and booking tomorrow's replay at Harrow Borough.
Atrocious defending gave the Islanders a mountain to climb as a half-cleared corner invited Perry Norman to smash Harrow ahead on 11 minutes and then Fabio Valenti lobbed Borough's second six minutes later.
But a change of formation worked wonders for Newport and by half-time they had edged back into the tie courtesy of midfield goal poacher Gareth Keeping, who side-footed in Lee Chudy's cross. With 17 minutes remaining Chudy netted the equaliser after good by-line work from Danny Hatcher.
Harrow Borough keeper Keita Karamoko was sent off with ten minutes to go for handling Ashley Wright's attempted lob outside the area but, unluckily for Newport, his replacement Dean Marney played a blinder.
From the resulting free kick Adam Lang hit the bar and Glenn Howes somehow missed the rebound and then Marney made a handful of outstanding saves to keep the Dr Martens Eastern Division hosts at bay.
Tate said: "We won't be afraid of Harrow in the replay. I fancy our chances and the lads do too. We'll go there full of confidence."
Today's draw paired Newport or Harrow with a home tie against Conference leaders Hereford United. Basingstoke Town are also heading for a replay at Bracknell tomorrow night after failing to cash in on home advantage against the Ryman Division 1 South club Bracknell in a goalless draw.
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