MICHAEL Flynn heaped praise on his “outstanding” players after they sealed a big three points in the fight to stay in League Two.

Tom Owen-Evans’ first senior goal was enough to see off promotion-chasing Exeter City at St James Park.

And the win moved County to within three points of Hartlepool United and four of Cheltenham Town with five games left to play.

“To go and beat a team fighting for the play-offs at their own ground and the manner that we did it in means it was the best performance since I’ve been in charge,” said a delighted Flynn.

“I thought the lads were absolutely outstanding and deserved the victory.”

The match was delayed by 45 minutes after the Exiles’ team bus was held up by an accident on the M5 and Flynn praised his players for dealing with that disruption and other setbacks coming into the game.

“The lads have been magnificent since I’ve been here and again they’ve shown that,” he added.

“There were no excuses. It can happen and it was just one of those things.

“There was nothing we could do about it – we left plenty of time.

“We lost Sean Rigg [to injury], we lost Joss Labadie [to suspension] – big players for us – we had Mitch Rose being sick on the pitch and at half-time, Alex Samuel has been sick and Mark Randall hasn’t played for a long time.

“But the people who came in were absolutely outstanding.

“Those are the things we’ve had to deal with this week and the boys responded brilliantly and they deserve all the credit.”

Owen-Evans’ winner on 53 minutes – a left foot strike from 25 yards out that arrowed into the bottom corner of the net – was just reward for the academy graduate, according to the caretaker boss.

“It was a superb strike and I thought that was his best performance as a professional,” he said.

“I thought his energy and his discipline was outstanding and he struck the goal with his left – his weaker foot – I’m made up for him.”