Flynn hails Newport’s character after play-off berth is secured

Posted Sunday, May 05, 2019 by PA

Newport boss Michael Flynn hailed his side’s character after they secured the final League Two play-off spot after a 1-1 draw with Morecambe at the Globe Arena.

Jamille Matt’s 87th minute goal was enough to earn the Exiles a tie and keep their promotion hopes alive.

Flynn said: “It wasn’t a great performance but it was all about getting into the play-offs and that is what we did.

“The players stuck at it and whatever happens now it has been a fantastic season but we are going into these play-offs to win it.

“It was an awful start and we didn’t play well really. Joe Day kept us in it in the second half and Aaron Collins should have scored a hat-trick.

“But they stuck at it and they showed true character to go right to the death and I was delighted for them and the fans at the end of the game.

“I have a bunch of players who will do everything they can for me and I could not ask for any more from them.

“If someone said to me at the start of the season we would make the play-offs I would have bitten their hands off.’’

Morecambe manager Jim Bentley said his side should have seen the Exiles off after creating a host of chances.

He said: “We played some great football at times and should have killed the game off. It was a great game to be involved in for the final game of the season but a shame we couldn’t hang on for the win.

“But that has been the story of our season in many ways. The football is great but we need to be more clinical at one end and a bit more streetwise at the other as late goals conceded have cost us dearly this season and we need to be a bit cuter.

“We need to look at those areas next season to improve again. Last year we survived on the final day of the season but this year we have made great strides and if we can keep this squad together I really think we can improve again next season.”

Morecambe took the lead in the 20th minute with a goal from former Newport youngster Aaron Collins.

The striker ran on to a long ball and kept his cool with a sweet left foot finish under Day from the edge of the area.

From there Newport hit back and laid siege and looked sure to level just before the break only for Josh Sheehan to be denied twice in quick succession by the leafs of Morecambe keeper Mark Halstead.

The second half saw Morecambe create a host of chances but Day was the visitors’ hero with two fantastic saves from Collins to keep his side in the game.

As time ran out Newport pushed bodies forward and were rewarded late in the game when the home defence failed to defend a right wing cross and Matt was in the perfect place to poke the ball home from six yards out to earn a play-off tie with Mansfield.