MICHAEL Flynn had a simple message for the fans at the Newport County AFC awards evening on Saturday night: “We're going to finish the job in the next week.”

Flynn had just watched his side beat League Two champions Lincoln City at Rodney Parade to keep alive their hopes of joining the Imps in League One next season.

Scot Bennett scored the only goal of the game in the seventh minute to keep County two points below seventh-placed Exeter City with a game in hand.

And the Exiles know that they will be guaranteed a place in the play-offs if they beat Oldham Athletic at home tomorrow night and win at Morecambe at the weekend.

Four points from their final two games will be enough to seal a top-seven spot if Exeter fail to win at fifth-placed Forest Green Rovers on the final day.

But Flynn wants his team to take care of business themselves without worrying about results elsewhere.

“I thought my boys were absolutely fantastic,” said the manager.

“They stood up to everything that Lincoln threw at them.

“It was a great effort from the lads and they just need to do it two more times now.

“It’s in our hands and we’ve got to take care of ourselves. We don’t want to be relying on other people.”

County are now unbeaten in eight games and they have kept six clean sheets in that run.

And Flynn feels his team are learning how to see games out under intense pressure.

“I’ve got to give credit to Lincoln,” he said. “It just goes to show why they are champions – because they keep going to the end.

“But we are managing games better now. We’re seeing things out and not being so cavalier.

“It’s all good going forward, but they’re remembering their defensive duties as well now.”

None more so than Josh Sheehan, although the midfielder did almost gift Lincoln substitute Shay McCartan with an equaliser late on.

“I told him I would have strangled him if they’d scored,” joked Flynn.

“But I thought he was brilliant. He’s in there to play football and he did that for the whole game.

“He’ll learn from that moment. He’s had a good run in the side. He’s been excellent.”

A total of 3,817 home fans saw Saturday’s win, down on the 3,984 who witnessed the victory over Bury on Good Friday, and Flynn wants another big crowd for tomorrow’s final home game of the regular season.

“It would be nice to have a few more on the gate,” said the Exiles boss.

“It’s an important part of the season and the crowds are probably still a little bit down on where we should be, but it is what it is. We’ll just keep battling on.

“I’m hoping to have more available for Tuesday,” he added. “Joss [Labadie] and Jamille [Matt] are close.”

Padraig Amond was the big winner at the awards evening, taking home five prizes including player of the year and goal of the year.

Tyreeq Bakinson was named young player of the year, while Matt earned the players' player of the year trophy.