NEWPORT County AFC manager Michael Flynn admitted he was sick with nerves as Morecambe and Aaron Collins looked like ending the Exiles play-off dream, but he was jumping for joy after the final whistle at the Globe Arena.

County academy graduate Collins’ first-half strike looked like denying his hometown club a top-seven spot.

But Jamille Matt’s 87th-minute equaliser, combined with Exeter City’s 0-0 draw at Forest Green Rovers, was enough to book a play-off semi-final date with Mansfield Town.

“I’m feeling a lot better now than I was earlier because we were outplayed today,” admitted Flynn.

"If I am being honest, I felt sick all the way through the game, my nerves were terrible.

“Morecambe had a lot of chances and for whatever reason we were not at it at all.

"We huffed and puffed but our final ball was poor and we were just not at it in the final third, or at the back.

“But we kept going and to get that goal at the end, it says everything about the boys and their 'never-say-die' attitude.

"They kept going and because of that they have got their just rewards and we have made it to the play-offs.”

Free Press Series:

Flynn and his players had to wait for the match at Forest Green to finish before they could celebrate with the 800 travelling fans.

“It was an agonising wait to find out if the draw was enough,” he said.

“The quickest way to find out is on a betting app, because it’s all updated quicker than anyone else.

“So, well done to my analyst; he had the initiative to think of that and we knew before anyone else.”

Free Press Series:

Flynn’s men now host Mansfield at Rodney Parade on Thursday night before the return leg at Field Mill next Sunday.

“It’s going to be very tough,” said the Exiles boss. “They’re a very good team with some great players and we’ll have to be at our best on Thursday and Sunday.”

Read more: Match report from the Globe Arena