NEWPORT County AFC are nervously looking down in League Two after they failed to make first-half dominance count in a 2-1 defeat to promotion-chasing AFC Wimbledon.

The 18th-placed Exiles will feel aggrieved to have gone down to goals in the second half from Josh Kelly and Romaine Sawyers at a chilly Rodney Parade.

Oliver Greaves’ scrappy goal made it nervy in added time but there was no more drama, meaning a third defeat on the spin to add to the gloom.

New Year’s Day wins for strugglers, influential midfielder Bryn Morris’ departure for Harrogate, rumours of more exits and then captain Shane McLoughlin limping off at the death have added to fears of a relegation scrap.

It means that three points are desperately needed when Morecambe, 23rd in the table, visit Newport on Sunday.

Forget about performance or style.

County had the better of the first half at leaders Walsall on Sunday without creating a clear chance but this was a different story against the Dons.

DENIED: Bobby Kamwa curled narrowly wide for County (Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency)

They went close on several occasions – Michael Spellman three times, Bobby Kamwa, Kai Whitmore – but were frustrated to go into the break level at 0-0.

County were grateful for a superb stop by Jacob Carney, who was in for the injured Nick Townsend, on the stroke of half-time to stop the Dons burgling the lead.

However, the promotion hopefuls got their noses in front three minutes after the restart thanks to an excellent finish on the break by Kelly.

The Dons looked a more composed, savvy side after the break and sealed the spoils in the 77th minute when Sawyers side-footed in from the edge of the area.

Substitute Greaves got a deflected goal in the 92nd minute but County paid the price for not being able to keep the foot on the gas against promotion-chasing opponents that prospered from half-time tinkering.

It means Sunday is now arguably must-win for Nelson Jardim’s side, certainly must-not-lose.

County made two changes from the side that lost at Walsall, three to the XI that thumped Milton Keynes Dons.

Goalkeeper Nick Townsend was out through injury, although his absence fuelled speculation of the stalwart following Morris out the exit, with Carney starting and new signing Lewis Webb as his cover.

Kyle Hudlin started up front after extending his loan from Huddersfield until the end of the season with Luke Jephcott dropping to the bench.

The change from the other Dons encounter was Whitmore replacing Morris after his move to Harrogate.

County had the first chance in the 10th minute when Spellman, starting on the right, fired in a fierce drive with his left foot that was tipped over by Owen Goodman.

Then, after a wasted counter-attack opportunity from a Dons corner, there was a repeat with the ‘keeper this time diving to his left to tip over from the winger.

The Exiles went close for the third time inside 15 minutes with another break that saw Kamwa, after Hudlin had run offside to make his decision for him, cut inside and curl an effort narrowly wide.

It was a very bright start by the hosts with Whitmore forcing the Wimbledon defence into strong blocks when the ball fell his way from a corner, then Hudlin shot wide after a lucky ricochet in the box.

There was another half chance in the 26th minute after a botched Goodman clearance but Spellman couldn’t seriously test the ‘keeper from distance as he scrambled back to his goal, although he still had a slight fumble.

The Exiles needed to make their dominance count and another opportunity went begging in the 35th minute when the lively Whitmore tricked his way to the byline but nobody was on hand to knock in his driven ball across the face of goal.

All that good work was almost undone in the 37th minute when County were pickpocketed in their half but thankfully Josh Kelly’s shot was comfortably saved by Carney, then the pattern resumed.

Goodman got down well to his left twice to make solid stops from the edge of the area by Whitmore and Spellman as the hosts hunted the elusive opener It was one-way traffic but the Exiles were indebted to their ‘keeper just after the board had indicated one minute of time to be added.

Matty Stevens curled an effort that was destined for the top right corner but Carney got his right hand up to claw the ball out in a huge confidence-booster for the EFL novice.

Yet he was picking the ball out of his net just three minutes after the restart when Kelly outmuscled Kieron Evans, burst away and then finished comprehensively.

Jardim made a change on the hour to hunt the equaliser with Jephcott on for Hudlin, who endured a frustrating evening against one of his former loan clubs.

McLoughlin fired narrowly wide from distance with 20 minutes to go (although Goodman probably had it covered), then County central defender Ciaran Brennan blocked well as Stevens sniffed a goal to seal the win.

Two more rolls of the dice came on 76 minutes with the introduction of Oliver Greaves and Jamie Miley, but instead came the clincher.

Kelly timed his run well to break down the right, crossed and Sawyers – who had brought composure after coming on at the break – finished calmly.

Greaves gave some brief hope but, unlike in Wimbledon at the start of December, there was no late, late drama to make it 2-2.

There must be a big response to the disappointment on Sunday.

County: Carney, McLoughlin (captain, Jameson 90), Brennan, Baker, Glennon, K Evans, Antwi, Spellman (Greaves 76), Whitmore (Miley 76), Kamwa, Hudlin (Jephcott 60).

Substitutes not used: Webb, Clarke, Jameson, Kargbo.

Goal: Greaves.

AFC Wimbledon scorers: Kelly, Sawyers.

Referee: Will Finnie.

Attendance: 4,485 (358 Wimbledon).