Semenyo has the last laugh

LIKE any good comedian, Mike Flynn knows the best punchlines are all about timing, which is why he was full of praise for show-stopper Antoine Semenyo.

Newport manager Flynn (above) is one of the wittiest on the circuit, but even he would have found it hard to match the last laugh the 18-year-old delivered at Stevenage’s expense.

Semenyo – on loan from Bristol City – blasted home the winner in the eighth minute of added time to lift County into the automatic promotion places.

“It’s the best way to win a game of football,” said Flynn.

“We scored right at the beginning and right at the death. We weren’t quite at our best but to be able to beat a good Stevenage team when you’re not at your best shows how far we’ve come and how far we can go.” Matty Dolan’s magnificent opener from 25 yards arrived after just 46 seconds and although Luther Wildin headed Stevenage’s equaliser in firsthalf injury time, Newport just about deserved their win.

The victory lifted County – unbeaten in six matches – into third spot and underlined their formidable collective spirit, while Stevenage stay just inside the play-off places.

“They are a great group, they just don’t know when they’re beaten,” said Flynn. “They broke all the fitness targets we set them in pre-season.

Flynn’s only concern was the seriouslooking shin injury suffered by Robbie Wilmott, who was carried off after 77 minutes.

The long delay meant the extra minutes at the end, but Stevenage boss Dino Maamria admitted his team’s errors cost them.

“We wasted two chances to clear the ball before their winner,” said Maamria.