Southend United 1-1 Newport County: Tom King saves penalty as Exiles seal play-off spot
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Tom King made a fine save from Matt Rush's penalty
Southend United's 101-year stay in the Football League ended with a 1-1 draw with Newport County which saw the Exiles seal a play-off place.
Southend's relegation was confirmed last weekend, but that did not stop Phil Brown's team giving Newport a final-day scare.
Shaun Hobson put the hosts ahead but Mickey Demetriou headed home to level.
Tom King then saved Matt Rush's penalty to give Newport the point which set up a play-off clash with Forest Green.
Mike Flynn's side season finish the regular season in fifth, one place above Forest Green, while Southend ended in 23rd.
The Shrimpers had threatened early on through veteran Greg Halford before Newport failed to deal with a corner and defender Hobson stabbed in just his second goal of the season.
Newport were fortunate not to concede a second when Halford inexplicably fired over from point-bank range.
Wales international midfielder Josh Sheehan's free-kick was well saved by Southend's Mark Oxley before Demetriou rose highest to nod in his third goal in as many games from Aaron Lewis' long throw.
Southend were then awarded a contentious penalty, possibly for handball by Liam Shephard, but King guessed right to deny Rush.
There was concern for Newport as skipper Joss Labadie limped off injured.
Newport manager Mike Flynn:
"It's never ever going to be the simple way. It's just not in our DNA.
"But listen, the players deserve all the accolades. They have been written off at times but they have been outstanding this season and if we'd been a little bit more clinical, we would definitely have been in that top three.
"We have conceded a poor goal today, then we scored probably a poor goal - it was a great header from Mickey mind - then the penalty was never a penalty. Liam Shephard got pulled and it's hit his hand."