A LATE goal robbed Morecambe of victory on the final day of the season.
Jamille Matt's goal four minutes from time denied the Shrimps a fifth win from their final six home games of the campaign but secured Newport the final League 2 playoff spot.
Morecambe boss Jim Bentley Ade one change to the side that beat Cambridge last week with Carlos Mendes-Gomes starting in midfield in place of Piero Mingoia who dropped to the bench.
The Shrimps started the game well and took the lead in the 20th minute through former Newport youngster Aaron Collins.
The striker ran on to a long ball and kept his cool with a sweet left foot finish under Joe Day from the edge of the area for his eighth goal for the Shrimps to seal the club’s Golden Boot in the process.
From there Newport hit back and laid siege and looked sure to level just before the break only for Josh Sheehan to be denied twice in quick succession by the leafs of Morecambe keeper Mark Halstead, the second a remarkable block from close range.
Morecambe threatened too with Vadaine Oliver denied the clearest of penalties after being shoved over in the box for a decision not given.
The second half saw Morecambe create a host of chances but Day was the visitors’ hero with two fantastic saves from Collins to keep his side in the game.
Collins was also close to getting on the end of a superb Morecambe move when he was thwarted by a last gasp tackle from Mickey Demetriou.
As time ran out Newport pushed bodies forward and were rewarded late in the game when the home defence failed to defend a right wing cross and Matt was in the perfect place to poke the ball home from six yards out to see his side end the normal season on a high.
Morecambe: Halstead, Sutton, Old, Lavelle, Conlan. Mendes-Gomes (rep Mandeville 45), Fleming, McKay (rep Mingoia 78), Cranston, Oliver (rep Ellison 79), Collins. Subs not used: Roche, Kenyon, Bennett, Hedley.
County: Day; Poole (McKirdy, 74), O’Brien, Demetriou; Willmott, Bennett, Sheehan (Marsh-Brown, 86), Butler; Dolan (Azeez, 58); Amond, Matt
Subs not used: Pipe, Crofts, Bakinson
Referee: Neil Hair
Att: 2,776 (871 away)