Margate 1 Newport County 1

PETER BENEVIDES was the star of the show as Margate earned a Nationwide South point against Newport County at Homelands on Saturday.

The 24-year-old American was most people's man of the match, and not just because of his fine solo first-half goal. His non-stop running always caught the eye, in a game that was never a classic.

It was a game that Chris Kinnear's side had enough chances to win, but they might also easily have lost it against a County side who were a vastly improved side in the second half.

They levelled courtesy of a 65th minute penalty by former Welsh international Jason Bowen, conceded by Billy Edwards who added to Margate's injury problems by limping off with a hamstring problem eight minutes from time.

It's an important week for the Thanet club. The local council cabinet meet on Thursday night and are expected to finally rubber-stamp plans to re-develop Hartsdown Park. Then on Saturday they continue their FA Cup campaign with a trip to Braintree, but Edwards, Greg Oates and Adrian Clarke are all doubtful.

Oates (knee) and Clarke (back) missed the clash against County, but striker Darren Watson has returned to the club and was on the bench.

Rocky Baptiste missed two great chances early in the second half that would have put the homeside 3-0 up, and Kinnear felt it was "two points thrown away" as they registered their first draw of the season.

Once again John Keister walked a disciplinary tight-rope throught the game. Referee Mark John seemed to take exception to Keister's comments after the former Sierra Leone international took exception to a first half challenge, and it was no surprise when he later picked up a 37th minute yellow card.

Dean Beckwith had a fine game at right back in his last appearance before completing his loan spell from Gillingham, as Margate led through an excellent goal from Benevides. The former University of Rhode Island graduate left Newport defenders in his wake, hugging the bye-line, before shooting inside Roger Freestone's near post. Che Stadhart headed over the bar after good work by another impressive newcomer Alex Charalambous.

Baptiste's best chances of the game came in the space of ten minutes after the break. The first saw him fall in the box at the vital moment, and then pulled another effort wide of the far post.

Cries of "rubbish" and "garbage" were directed at the Welsh team by their supporters, but then Margate failed to defend a through ball and Edwards was adjudged to have brought down former Brighton youngster Carl Wilson-Denis.

The assistant referee on the far side flagged for a penalty, and Bowen stepped up to comfortably beat Peter Trego from the spot. The long-serving Margate defender looked to be the last-man, but Mr John who had an inconsistent afternoon, only produced a yellow.

Both sides had a late chance to snatch all three points, with Trego twice forced into important late saves. Substitute Moses Junju replaced Edwards and saw his effort curl just wide of the far post.