Newport County in the groove and on the move

That definitely wasn’t the case on their way to Exeter City as the team bus ground to a halt in heavy traffic on the M5.

But, once they finally made it to St James Park, Michael Flynn’s men showed they've got the groove.

Youngster Tom Owen-Evans hit a superb winner on 53 minutes and Scot Bennett orchestrated a determined defensive display to frustrate his old club in the closing stages.

A second successive clean sheet earned a fourth win in seven games under Flynn’s control and ensured the Exiles closed the gap on their relegation rivals once again.

County are now just three points behind Hartlepool United and four off Cheltenham Town and, significantly, they could even climb out of the bottom two with a home win over Yeovil Town on Good Friday.

McFadden and Whitehead’s 1979 disco hit was widely interpreted to be about the experience of the African American community but it has been adopted by various sports teams over the years, including the Philadelphia Eagles, the Detroit Red Wings and the Los Angeles Rams.

And it perfectly captures the mood of infectious optimism and belief emanating from the County squad as we approach the final five games of the season.

“There's been so many things that's held us down,” sang the Phillie funk duo.

“But now it looks like things are finally comin' around.

“I know we've got, a long way to go and where we'll end up, I don't know.

“But we won't let nothin' hold us back.”

Flynn didn’t let his side hold anything back in the Devon sunshine, responding to the absence of Joss Labadie through suspension and Sean Rigg through injury in positive fashion.

Rather than move Bennett back to a midfield role alongside Mitch Rose, where he has looked uncomfortable, the caretaker boss opted to recall both Owen-Evans and Mark Randall in the middle of the park.

The message was that his side hadn’t come to grind out a point, they were there to win the game and the extra creativity in the centre proved its worth.

The visitors had most of the chances in a tight first 45 minutes with David Wheeler wasting three good opportunities with his head.

But Randall’s passing ability stood out and his constant probing caused Paul Tisdale’s men plenty of problems.

David Pipe, who wore the captain’s armband in Labadie’s absence, hassled and harried the hosts and carved out chances for Owen-Evans and Ryan Bird after the break.

And he then found Owen-Evans, who was given the time and space to advance towards goal and unleash a vicious left-foot strike that gave Exeter goalkeeper Christy Pym no chance.

It was no less than the academy graduate deserved for a mature and enterprising performance alongside Randall and it was just reward for County’s impressive start to the second half.

Exeter will feel that they should have forced an equalizer as they threw everything at their visitors in the final half hour.

But Bennett, Mark O’Brien, Mickey Demetriou and Co stood firm and Joe Day eased the tension by claiming several high balls at the death.

The final whistle was greeted by boos from the home fans, who saw their side’s play-off hopes suffer a blow, but there were wild celebrations in the away end.

The players all went over to thank their supporters in scenes reminiscent of the victories at Crewe Alexandra and Morecambe and in stark contrast to the mood of anger and discord under Graham Westley at Mansfield Town.

Five weeks into his reign and Flynn has transformed the feeling throughout the club.

With four weeks to go there is still plenty of work to do but there is also enough evidence to suggest that there could be much more to celebrate between now and May 6.

County: Day; Pipe, O’Brien, Bennett, Demetriou, Butler; Randall (Jones, 75), Rose, Owen-Evans; Samuel (Myrie-Williams, 90), Bird (Williams, 64)

Subs not used: Bittner, Barnum-Bobb, Nelson, Gordon

Booked: Randall, Jones

Referee: Eddie Ilderton

Attendance: 4,040 (364 County)