NEWPORT County AFC suffered a sickening defeat to 10-man Luton Town, going down to a controversial penalty that was converted in the 97th minute.

County looked to have secured another valuable point on the road after Jennison Myrie-Williams had cancelled out Cameron McGeehan’s first penalty with a goal direct from a corner.

A draw would have been the reward the Exiles deserved for a battling display and they looked to have done enough after the Hatters had defender Johnny Mullins sent off six minutes from the end.

But deep into stoppage time all their hard work was undone when Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu went down in the box and McGeehan netted his second from the spot.

Jamie Turley was the man ajudged to have fouled Mpanzu - a decision that clearly angered County manager Warren Feeney, who stormed onto the pitch at the end to confront referee Charles Breakspear.

It had all started so promisingly for Feeney and his team.

Winger Myrie-Williams shook off a thigh problem picked up at Leyton Orient on Saturday to retain his place.

That meant the Exiles boss was able to name an unchanged side after that shock 1-0 win at Brisbane Road.

And the first half display was similarly impressive at Kenilworth Road as County soaked up some early pressure before starting to impose themselves on the hosts.

Goalkeeper Joe Day picked up where he left off at the weekend with another impressive display.

He got down superbly to palm away a Jordan Cook piledriver from the edge of the area and also saved from Jack Marriott and McGeehan. Day was also grateful for well-timed blocks from Scot Bennett and Joss Labadie to keep the hosts at bay.

For the Exiles it was Sean Rigg who was the main goal threat. The former AFC Wimbledon front man fired well off target with an early range-finder before heading wide from a Dan Butler cross and then forcing Christian Walton into a smart save at his near post.

The visitors won a number of corners without troubling Walton before Mark Randall beat several defenders with a jinking run only to be crowded out in the area before he could get a shot away.

The best chance of the half came at the other end, however, as Danny Hylton made a real mess of Stephen O’Donnell’s tempting cross from the right.

The Hatters started the second half as if they meant business and Mpanzu had two glorious chances within five minutes of the restart.

He shot wildly over the top with his first but was denied by the on-rushing Day with the second.

Marlon Jackson went close at the other end but Jordan Green’s header from the resultant corner was easy for Walton to deal with.

The deadlock was finally broken on 62 minutes when Randall slipped and Turley brought down Hylton in the box.

McGeehan sent Day the wrong way from the spot and the hosts looked to be on their way to three points.

But Feeney’s men had other ideas and they were level less than 10 minutes later thanks to a real rarity – a goal scored direct from the corner flag.

Myrie-Williams produced a vicious inswinging delivery that Walton failed to deal with and it found the bottom corner to stun the home fans and delight the 115 County supporters behind the goal.

Day had to be alert again to snuff out the danger as Hylton raced through the middle but they looked to be heading home with a point before the late drama that so incensed Feeney and his players.

County: Day, Butler, Jones, Bennett, Turley, Myrie-Williams, Randall (Tozer, 82), Labadie, Green (Barnum-Bobb, 67), Rigg, Jackson (Parkin, 69)

Subs not used: Bittner, Bignot, Owen-Evans, Sheehan

Booked: Jones, Butler, Randall, Tozer, Myrie-Williams, Parkin

Referee: Charles Breakspear

Attendance: 7, 058 (115 County)

Argus star man: Joe Day