AS the club contemplates a potentially exciting new era off the pitch, Newport County AFC showed their fans that there could be plenty to look forward to on it as well with an encouraging display against Queens Park Rangers.

It has been an up and down pre-season with victories over Undy and Port Talbot followed by a defeat at Bath City, a win at Torquay United and another loss at Eastleigh.

But this was a big step up in terms of quality of opponent for Terry Butcher’s men and they responded well with a mature display that bodes well for the challenges ahead.

And with only Tuesday’s trip to Weston-super-Mare remaining before they start their League Two campaign at Cambridge United on August 8 Butcher will be happy with the progress his side demonstrated.

The visitors, after all, were led by two England internationals in their starting XI in goalkeeper Rob Green and centre-back Steven Caulker, boasting 13 caps between them.

County’s pair of England internationals – manager Butcher and assistant Russell Osman – beat that with 88 caps.

And, with injury problems in central defence, former Three Lions skipper Butcher opted for an extra man in the back line with Scott Barrow and Kieran Parselle lining up alongside Regan Poole in the middle.

Versatile former Yeovil Town pair Nathan Ralph and Seth Nana Twumasi started at left and right wing-back respectively.

In midfield captain Mark Byrne was reunited with Yan Klukowski on the latter’s return from injury.

And up front the impressive Medy Elito and Scott Boden combined well behind Lenell John-Lewis.

R’s boss Chris Ramsey fielded a fairly strong team less than two weeks before the Championship kick-off with Green and Caulker joined by Massimo Luongo, Alejandro Faurlin, new signing Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and livewire Junior Hoilett.

But the young Exiles team showed no signs of being overawed in the early stages as John-Lewis in particular looked in the mood to make an impact.

The ex-Grimsby striker fired inches wide of Green’s far post in the fourth minute after a clever ball forward from Scott Barrow.

And John-Lewis, serenaded with his nickname The Shop by a noisy and appreciative crowd, controlled a high ball superbly soon afterwards to set up strike partner Boden.

Sebastian Polter gave Joe Day his first test of the afternoon but the County keeper was easily equal to the weak shot from the German under-21 striker.

Polter headed a good chance over the top midway through the first half and Day did well to keep out an Emmanuel-Thomas effort that skidded along the wet turf.

Then, after Poole cleared the danger at one end, County broke quickly and Elito forced Green into a spectacular diving save to his left to keep his side level.

The keeper, who briefly featured at the World Cup in 2010, was called into action again before the break to deny Boden as Butcher boy’s matched a side relegated from the Premier League in May.

That continued after the interval as Ralph chipped a good ball forward and Klukowski had sub goalkeeper Joe Lumley worried with a dipping volley just over his bar.

The visitors also introduced Matt Philips and Wales under-21 international Michael Doughty.

As the rain eased and the sun made a belated appearance, Butcher brought on Rhys Taylor for Day and Alex Rodman for Elito.

It was a welcome chance for Rodman to show what he can do having picked up an ankle injury in the first friendly against Undy earlier this month.

But the former Aldershot man saw little of the ball as the visitors threatened more often as the game reached a climax.

Taylor could only watch as Phillips’ curled effort dropped just over his bar but the ex-Macclesfield keeper reacted quickly to smother the danger when Polter looked set to hook home the winner.

Phillips had the ball in the net but his strike was ruled out for offside and County held on for a deserved draw that should act as a big confidence booster.

County: Day (R.Taylor, 46), Twumasi, Poole, Parselle, Barrow, Elito (Rodman, 64), Klukowski, Byrne, Ralph (Owen-Evans, 88), Boden (Collins, 75), John-Lewis

Subs not used: Bamford, Shephard, Jones

QPR: Green (Lumley, 46), Furlong (Comley, 74), Wise, Caulker, Kpekawa, Luongo (Doughty, 46), Faurlin, Chery (Phillips, 46), Emmanuel-Thomas, Polter, Hoilett (Grego-Cox, 70)

Subs not used: Kakay, Onuoha

Attendance: 1,840 (283 QPR)