Newport come from behind to take a point against AFC Wimbledon.

 Newport County battled back from 2-0 down to snatch a point against AFC Wimbledon this afternoon at Rodney Parade. 

Both sides returned to league action following disappointing exits from the league cup in midweek with the Exiles losing via the dreaded penalty kicks to Brentford on Tuesday night and Wimbledon heading out to London rivals Chelsea losing 2-1 but taking the lead at Stamford Bridge. 

Newport County started very much on the front foot with Omar Bogle, who made his first league start of the season this afternoon holding the ball up well and playing the ball into Harry Charsley who had a shot blocked. 

AFC Wimbledon took the lead after only 9 minutes of the game through James Tilley keeping up with the early season form with Wimbledon scoring first in 4 out of the last 5 games before today and County conceding the first goal in 8 out of the last 10 games prior to kick off.

What ever the game plan was going into the game it clearly wasn't working. One thing I noticed in the first half at least is the amount of times our center backs were playing the ball long up the field looking for our forward men but just seemed to give possession back to Wimbledon. 

County did come back into the game more as the first half went on as they started reverting back to playing the ball on the ground which is what we have seen Graham Coughlan's men do so well so far this season. Shane McLoughlin had a great chance to level with a header from a wonderful Aaron Wildig cross. 

As County were on the ascendancy Wimbledon doubled their lead through their top scorer James Tilley who pounced on an error from captain Ryan Delaney and slotted past Nick Townsend to score what felt like an undeserved second.  

Newport were awarded a free kick following a foul on Al-Hamadi, who was subject to a deadline day bid by League One Barnsley. The following play from the free kick lead to holding midfielder Scot Bennett having a go on goal and came the closest anyone for anyone in amber all afternoon as he hit the top of the crossbar from 20 yards out.

Our Striker who is in red hot form for the Exiles scored again! Will Evans halved the deficit on the stroke of half time and gave Graham Coughlan's men a lifeline going into the second 45. 

The man with a wand of a left foot Adam Lewis coming of a week with 2 assists nearly had a goal to cap it all off in the opening seconds of the second half. He found space on the left hand side and drilled the ball into the box but keeper' Alex Bass was quick out and got down well. 

Ryan Delaney played a ball into Omar Bogle who controlled it well and drew out Alex Bass far out of his goal and our number 9 had a very simple chip over the top of the keeper to level the game and send Rodney Parade into a frenzy. 

The game lost a little momentum after that second County goal with both teams looking for a goal but created very little in the way of clear cut opportunities. James Tilley was a constant bright spark for the visitors all afternoon with most if not all of their good play coming from the winger who has had a good start to the season with 7 goals including a penalty against Chelsea.

We did see the first glimpse of new forward Olly Thomas who had a 20 minute cameo at the end of the game. He looked good when he came on. I thought he was very good with his running, good turn of pace and good energy. Very similar to what we had with his fellow Bristol City loanee Seb Palmer-Houlden. 

At full time a draw felt like the fair result with both teams having really really good spells of play. Wimbledon just shaded it in terms of shots with 14 but both sides had 4 shots on goal. That point does nothing for both sides as both remain where they were before the start of play. County are in 6th place with Wimbledon a place above on 5. This comes at the end of a busy week for Graham Coughlan and his men with 3 games in 7 days at Rodney Parade. A win and 2 draws albeit one ending in a penalty shootout defeat. I'd say it's been a pretty positive week and something to build upon going into a much more quieter month of September.

For more analysis join myself and Stephen Howell tomorrow at 2pm on Newport City Radio for an all new edition of Look Back In Amber.     

Newport County: Nick Townsend, Adam Lewis, Ryan Delaney, James Clarke, Will Evans, Bryn Morris, Omar Bogle (Olly Thomas), Scot Bennett, Shane McLoughlin, Harry Charsley (Nathan Wood), Aaron Wildig (James Waite) 

Attendance: 4008 (403) 

My man of the match: Will Evans