PERFECTIONIST Michael Flynn hailed a stunning Newport County AFC first half in their drubbing of Scunthorpe United – but warned they can’t repeat the mistakes of the second if they are to beat title-chasing Cheltenham.

The Exiles climbed into sixth in League Two with the crushing 4-0 victory against the Iron, keeping control of their fate in the tense and tight race for the play-offs.

READ MORE: The talking points from the win over Scunthorpe

A George Taft own goal was followed by a Mickey Demetriou double either side of teenage forward Lewis Collins’ first senior strike.

County were dealt a post-game blow with the news of late goals for rivals Salford and Exeter but remain in good shape for the top seven.

They entertain Cheltenham, who sealed promotion with a point against Carlisle, before a last-day trip to Southend.

“We were outstanding in the first half, it was near enough perfect but one of two things got on my nerves in the second half,” said Flynn.

“We were a little bit sloppy at times and, no disrespect to Scunthorpe, if we think we can do that against Cheltenham then they will punish us.

“I am over the moon with the players, don’t think that I am not. It was a very, very good performance and there could have been more goals.

“Aaron Lewis had a fantastic effort and if it was a week earlier on that pitch it goes in for Nicky Maynard and doesn’t hit the bar.

“We could have scored a few more goals but the pleasing thing is that we are creating and we have been playing well for a number of games now.

“It’s good to keep a clean sheet and get some goals on the board.”

Flynn made a number of late changes with the introduction of five outfield subs – Matty Dolan, Kevin Ellison, Luke Gambin, Nicky Maynard and Dom Telford.

However, the manager would have liked to have well and truly killed off the Iron before Demetriou’s second with five left on the clock.

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“I’ve made the subs and don’t think that I was just making them because we were winning, I was making them because a few players are struggling,” he said.

“Josh Sheehan felt his groin, Joss Labadie hurt his ankle, Ryan Haynes was feeling his groin.

“We had to make those subs and I wished we’d scored the fourth earlier, because I would have made the subs earlier.”

County entertain Cheltenham on Saturday while Exeter face a tough trip to Bolton and Forest Green Rovers host fifth-placed Tranmere.

The Exiles could be in the play-offs come Saturday night but if they don’t produce the goods then they could also be outside the top seven.

“We’ve got two games to go and hopefully we will finish strongly,” said Flynn. “We have to concentrate on doing our side of things.

“I am focusing on Cheltenham and not on what other teams are doing. If we win our last two games then we are in the play-offs.”