A LATE penalty from Matty Dolan saw Morecambe slip to defeat at Rodney Parade.
Dolan scored from the spot with seven minutes of time remaining after Stephen Hendrie had brought down Josh Sheehan in the area after the striker looked to run on to Scott Twine’s excellent through ball.
Hendrie received his second yellow card of the game before Dolan stepped up to squeeze the ball past Mark Halstead despite the keeper diving the right way.
Morecambe started the game well and created the first real opening on nine minutes when Adam Phillips swung in a left wing corner which was met by Nathaniel Knight-Percival but he could only direct his header straight at home keeper Nick Townsend.
Three minutes later the Shrimps found themselves behind after a neat move from the home side. Liam Shepherd crossed to the far past, the ball was headed back into the danger area and former Shrimps striker Padraig Amond reacted quicker than Knight-Percival to slide the ball into the net from close range.
Morecambe hit back with another good chance of their own as Jordan Slew took the ball down superbly in the box but then drilled an effort well wide from the right hand side.
The chances continued however and the Shrimps levelled on 32 minutes as Carlos Mendes-Gomes scored his second goal of the week. Adam Phillips once again provided the assist with a well placed through ball for this midfielder whose his shot well saved bob Nick Townsend before slotting home the rebound with a neat finish.
The second half saw Newport start the better with a Twine shot parried by Halstead and Shepherd firing into the side netting before Morecambe began to threaten themselves.
Newport defender Micky Demetriou was forced to make a vital late clearance to deny Mendes-Gomes a clear run on goal before Phillips forced Townsend into a flying save with a great shot on the turn.
Phillips then created another good chance for Slew but he failed to find the target from an excellent right wing cross.
Newport struggled to break down the Shrimps’ defence until they were handed a lifeline by Hendrie’s challenge which presented the home side with their winning spot kick.