Newport County 4 Cambridge United 2

Everything seemed to be going wrong for Michael Flynn’s men as they lost goalkeeper Joe Day before kick-off and defender Mark O’Brien in the opening minutes before the visitors helped themselves to two goals.

But the introduction of Jamille Matt, who was unfortunate not to start after his brace against Chelsea under-21s in midweek, changed the game.

Four goals in 18 minutes either side of half-time turned the match on its head as Mickey Demetriou scored from the spot before the break and Padraig Amond levelled before Matt headed in from two Dan Butler crosses to send the homs fans wild with delight.

Day was forced to pull out before the match due to personal reasons so Nick Townsend was handed his first League start for the club.

And Matty Dolan failed to recover from the knee injury that forced him off at Tranmere Rovers last week so Josh Sheehan earned a recall in midfield.

But Flynn’s plans were disrupted after around 90 seconds of the 90 minutes when O’Brien went down clutching his hamstring.

Charlie Cooper was then drafted into midfield with Scot Bennett returning to the back three.

But Bennett and the rest of the Exiles defence was caught cold a minute later as Jake Carroll pushed forward and Lambe was allowed time and space to turn and guide a shot into the bottom corner from 20 yards out.

County regrouped and pushed for an immediate response and they were given hope by a shaky start from veteran Cambridge goalkeeper David Forde.

The 38-year-old Irish international looked suspect under high balls and he punched one straight to Cooper, who stabbed his shot wide.

Amond tried a spectacular overhead kick but his attempt was off target and Sheehan wasted a free-kick, blasting his shot high and wide from 30 yards.

But County were unconvincing at the back and Lambe took advantage to double the visitors’ lead with a superb individual goal.

The Bermudan international, who had an unsuccessful trial with the Exiles back in 2011, turned Butler and Demetriou inside out before finding the top corner of Townsend’s net.

The home fans may have been fearing another defeat to rival the Yeovil Town debacle a fortnight ago and for a while it looked possible as Cambridge defended in numbers and looked a real threat on the counter.

George Maris went close with a free-kick on 36 minutes and Flynn had seen enough.

Matt replaced the ineffective Sheehan as the boss made his second change six minutes before the interval.

Bennett moved back into midfield as Matt joined Semenyo and Amond in a three-pronged attack.

And he made an immediate impact as County tested Forde with high balls into the box and won a series of corners.

The pressure finally told in stoppage time when Cooper was bundled over by Liam O’Neil in the box, allowing Demetriou to pull a goal back from the spot.

It was a crucial momentum-changing moment and the Exiles made the most of it by levelling within five minutes of the restart.

Matt and Amond were queuing up at the near post as Butler played the ball in and it was the Irishman who poked it in for his first goal since the Carabao Cup win at Cambridge on August 14.

But Matt didn’t have to wait long to make his mark and he stooped to head in another Butler cross and complete the turnaround on the hour.

And three minutes later the substitute climbed high to head in a Butler free-kick to give his side breathing space and give the left-back a hat-trick of assists.

Lambe almost grabbed a hat-trick of goals but Townsend was out quickly to deflect his shot behind and County controlled the final 20 minutes reasonably well to secure a hard-fought three points.

The win sees the Exiles climb to second in the League Two table and they are now four points ahead of fourth-placed Stevenage.

County: Townsend; Franks, O’Brien (Cooper, 3), Demetriou; Forbes, Bennett, Bakinson, Butler; Sheehan (Matt, 39); Amond, Semenyo (Pring, 86)

Subs not used: Pipe, Marsh-Brown, Harris

Referee: Brett Huxtable

Attendance: 3,104 (111 Cambridge)

Argus star man: Matt