A PATCHED-UP Newport County AFC thought they had rescued a point at Carlisle United after fighting back from 2-0 down to level only for the hosts to snatch the win in stoppage-time.

A quickfire Jamie Devitt double put the hosts in control at Brunton Park but Padraig Amond pulled one back before the break and the Exiles looked to have earned a draw thanks to Dan Butler’s late leveller.

But it wasn’t to be as Danny Grainger won it for the hosts in spectacular fashion with a long-range strike into the top corner from 25 yards to settle an enthralling contest.

Mark O’Brien and Scot Bennett did not recover from the injuries that forced them off against Morecambe last week, while Jamille Matt was only fit enough for a place on the bench.

In came Tyler Forbes, looking to make amends for the error that let in Kevin Ellison for the Shrimps’ equaliser, Tyreeq Bakinson and Josh Sheehan.

With Mickey Demetriou the only recognised centre-back in the starting XI he was at the heart of a makeshift back three with David Pipe and Butler either side of him.

Forbes started at right wing-back, with Robbie Willmott on the other flank and Sheehan playing ahead of Bakinson and Matty Dolan in support of Amond and Antoine Semenyo up front.

Before kick-off there was precious little optimism from the home fans, who had not seen a goal from their side at Brunton Park since August 26.

But John Sheridan’s men tore into his former side from the off with long balls over the top causing the Exiles’ back line all manner of problems.

And, after seven hours and 59 minutes without a goal at home, they scored twice in three minutes through Devitt to leave County’s prospects looking as bleak as the Cumbrian sky.

Joe Day had already saved well with his foot to deny Jerry Yates when the first goal arrived in the ninth minute.

Mike Jones found Ashley Nadesan with a good ball in behind, he gave it to George Glendon who crossed low for Devitt to divert the ball into the bottom corner.

With the visitors still reeling, the second goal came from a corner in the 12th minute that was taken short by Devitt to Yates who teed up a shot from distance that squirmed under Day and into the net.

It was the first time that Carlisle had scored twice in the first half of a home league game since November 2017.

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And, after a brief respite when Amond and Butler tried their luck from the edge of the area, it was so nearly 3-0 on 34 minutes.

Day was again the hero as he again frustrated Yates from close range after a slip from Butler let the Carlisle in on goal.

Ashley Nadesan then headed just over from a corner and the hosts looked in complete control.

But the game changed six minutes before the break when Willmott pushed forward down the left flank and crossed for Amond to head in via an attempted clearance from Gary Liddle.

Suddenly it was County who were in the ascendency and Carlisle were happy to hear the half-time whistle.

Semenyo had goalkeeper Adam Collin worried with a fizzing drive that just cleared the bar before the break.

And the visitors remained on the front foot at the start of the second half with Sheehan, Forbes and Bakinson linking up superbly to find Semenyo.

His shot was deflected behind for a corner and Demetriou, who had gifted the hosts a chance with some poor defending moments earlier, tried an acrobatic effort from the set-piece but it was straight at Collin.

The match developed into an entertaining end-to-end contest and Forbes did well to block a Glendon piledriver before Amond sent a half volley wide at the other end.

Matt then replaced Forbes as County continued to put pressure on the home defence and there were loud appeals for a penalty when the lively Semenyo went down in the box after cutting in from the left.

Sheehan, who was enjoying one of his best displays of the season, then controlled brilliantly and powered a shot into the side netting from 25 yards before Day got his fingertips to a super strike from Carlisle substitute Regan Slater.

Butler blocked another goalbound effort before Nadesan headed against the post with Day beaten.

But County still weren’t finished and Matt went agonisingly close to an equaliser only to be denied by Collin as the frantic finale gathered pace.

Mark Harris replaced Semenyo for the final nine minutes and Matt saw a header tipped over as the Exiles went for the jugular.

And they finally got the goal they deserved four minutes from time.

Butler got on the end of Dolan’s free-kick and his initial shot was brilliantly saved by Collin at point-blank range but he hammered in the rebound from a yard out to spark wild celebrations in front of the travelling fans.

The drama wasn’t over, however, and the hosts won it with a stunning strike from Grainger in the third minute of stoppage-time to leave Flynn’s men and their fans heartbroken.

County: Day; Pipe, Demetriou, Butler; Forbes (Matt, 66), Bakinson, Dolan, Willmott; Sheehan (Marsh-Brown, 85); Amond, Semenyo (Harris, 81)

Subs not used: Townsend, Foulston, Cooper, Collins

Referee: Chris Sarginson

Attendance: 3,541 (136 County)

Argus star man: Day