Newport County tasted defeat for the first time since October with a 2-1 reverse at Thurrock on Saturday.
The afternoon was made worse by an injury to Sam Foley who has now been ruled out for the rest of the season.
It was only the Exiles’ second defeat of the season but the sixth visit to Thurrock that Newport have failed to take three points.
It seemed as if the Blue Square South champions were set to enjoy another successful day on the road when Garry Warren headed in Kerry Morgan’s corner after 19 minutes. Morgan had sent in a tantalising delivery, full of pace, which Warren attacked brilliantly to power home a header into the centre of the goal.
But Thurrock were soon level with a very well worked goal. The ball was excellently held up before being played into David Bryant on the top of the penalty area. Bryant took a touch and curled a delightful finish over Glyn Thompson and into the top right-hand corner.
Newport might well have been awarded a penalty shortly into the second half when Foley was hauled down but the referee adjudged the offence to be just outside the penalty area and the resulting free-kick was curled over the cross bar.
Foley then cut in from the left and collided with the Thurrock centre back. He was immediately in a great deal of pain and left the field on a stretcher. A later scan revealed that he suffered a hairline fracture.
Newport were rocked by the injury to Foley and started to look weak across the pitch. Thompson produced an excellent save when faced with a Thurrock breakaway before he was beaten with a similar move that provided Leon McKenzie with a chance on the right side of the penalty area that he slid into the opposite corner.
County failed to create any other opportunities and fell to a disappointing defeat, although credit must go to a competitive display by play-off-chasing Thurrock.
