NEWPORT County AFC ended their League Two campaign with another defeat, going down 1-0 at AFC Wimbledon to extend their winless run to 11 matches.

The match looked to be heading for a goalless stalemate before Dons substitute Toyosi Olusanya won and converted a penalty with 10 minutes left on the clock.

Exiles boss Warren Feeney made no less than seven changes from the side that was beaten 1-0 at home by Notts County last week.

The biggest surprise was the decision to hand goalkeeper Rhys Taylor his first Football League start for the club following the end of his loan at Wrexham in the Conference.

Also recalled were Andrew Hughes, Ben Davies, Mark Byrne, Alex Rodman, Scott Boden and Lenell John-Lewis.

Out went Joe Day, Janoi Donacien, Kieran Parselle, Medy Elito, Tommy O’Sullivan, Souleymane Coulibaly and Dean Morgan.

Feeney resisted the temptation to bring former Dons defender Darren Jones back into the starting XI to cope with the threat of man mountain Adebayo Akinfenwa.

Jones took his place on the bench alongside teenage defenders Parselle and Liam Angel and striker Tom Meechan.

Wimbledon manager Neal Ardley, whose side secured their League Two play-off place last week, went one better than his old Cardiff City pal Feeney and made eight changes.

Top scorer Lyle Taylor was among those rested, while academy products Will Nightingale and Ryan Sweeney started in defence.

Neither side had much to play for but both went on the attack in the early stages.

The hosts had three attempts in the first 10 minutes as Akinfenwa fired over the bar and Jake Reeves and Rhys Murphy shot wide from the edge of the area.

County’s first proper attempt saw Boden head into the side netting from Scott Barrow’s cross on 14 minutes.

The home fans were convinced their side should have had a penalty soon afterwards when the dangerous Adebayo Azeez went down under a challenge from Danny Holmes.

But referee Geoff Eltringham gave a goal kick and it remained goalless.

The momentum of the match was then severely dented as John-Lewis and Connor Smith clashed heads with a sickening crack while challenging for a high ball.

The Wimbledon midfielder came off much worse and play was halted for around 10 minutes while he received treatment, including oxygen.

The Irishman was eventually stretchered off and taken to hospital as a precaution and was replaced by Tom Beere.

When play restarted Taylor claimed a corner and launched a quick counter attack, which resulted in John-Lewis and Rodman both having shots blocked at the other end.

In the lengthy stoppage time Rodman had the visitors’ first shot on target, which was easily held by James Shea.

The Dons goalkeeper was then almost deceived by a Barrow free-kick that was caught by the wind before John-Lewis fluffed a golden chance laid on by strike partner Boden.

But right at the death the hosts had the best chance of the half as the almost unplayable Akinfenwa headed down a cross for Murphy, whose toe poke sailed over Taylor’s bar.

After the interval Taylor saved smartly from Azeez but was then grateful to see Akinfenwa pull a shot inches wide.

John-Lewis was then put through the middle but his drilled effort was well saved by Shea.

Moments later his opposite number Taylor came and failed to claim a high ball and Murphy’s header was just wide of the far post.

Feeney brought on Souleymane Coulibaly and Tommy O’Sullivan for John-Lewis and Tom Owen-Evans in an attempt to snatch a win.

But the pressure was mainly on Taylor’s goal in the final quarter.

The former Macclesfield stopper, who has been in superb form for Wrexham during his loan spell, saved brilliantly from Murphy.

He could do nothing moments later as Akinfenwa headed Callum Kennedy’s cross onto the far post and the striker then volleyed over from the edge of the area.

O’Sullivan almost put his side in front 12 minutes from time but his fierce drive was superbly stopped by the impressive Shea.

And the deadlock was finally broken on 80 minutes as Davies was adjudged to have brought down Olusanya in the box.

The youngster was handed the ball by Akinfenwa and confidently slammed it past Taylor’s dive to settle the match and condemn County to another defeat.

County: Taylor; Holmes, Partridge, Hughes, Davies; Rodman, Byrne, Owen-Evans (O’Sullivan, 62) Barrow; Boden (Meechan, 83), John-Lewis (Coulibaly, 62)

Subs not used: Green, Parselle, Angel, Jones

Referee: Geoff Eltringham (County Durham)

Attendance: 4,427 (402 County)

Argus star man: Andrew Hughes