Mickey keeps Exiles’ great escape on track

NEWPORT County’s survival hopes were given a big boost as Mickey Demetriou’s second-half free kick was enough to beat Yeovil Town at Rodney Parade.

The victory over the Glovers ensured the hosts continued their impressive revival under caretaker manager Mike Flynn, who has now taken 16 points from a possible 24, with County now just one point from safety.

The Exiles enjoyed the majority of possession in the first half but failed to create any clear-cut chances to test Jonny Maddison, who was making his league debut for Yeovil in the away goal.

Mitchell Rose fired two shots over the bar with Alex Samuel going close after a Mark Randall free kick.

But the closest the Exiles came was when Ryan Bird, who missed the target a few minutes earlier, fizzed a header straight at Maddison after connecting with a Randall corner in an otherwise uneventful first half.

Yeovil did trouble the Newport defence on a few occasions. Alex Lacey forced Joe Day to tip a header over the bar before Francois Zoko hit a tame effort at the goalkeeper.

A mistake in the Newport defence allowed Zoko to go one-on-one with Day but the striker’s lobbed effort landed on the roof of the net as the game remained goalless at half time.

Sean Rigg replaced Mark O’Brien at the break as Flynn looked to add more creativity to his side.

And, after Khan fired over early in the second half, County took control of the match.

Former Yeovil striker Bird won a free kick on the edge of the box after being brought down by Matt Butcher and defender Demetriou curled a superb effort into the bottom corner of Maddison’s net.

The goal sparked cries of “we are staying up” from the Rodney Parade faithful and Bird then fired in a second, only for the linesman to deny County the goal.

Rigg then curled an effort just wide of the post before Samuel hit a shot across the face of the goal as the hosts continued to attack. However, there was almost a late sting in the tail as Glovers captain Nathan Smith found space in the box in the dying minutes, but his effort went over as County claimed a vital three points.