Newport made the play-offs the hard way - Michael Flynn

The Exiles headed to relegated Southend needing a point to secure a top-seven finish and they achieved that to earn a semi-final clash with Forest Green, but it wasn’t a routine afternoon at Roots Hall.

County trailed 1-0 at half-time and were lucky to not be further behind by the time Mickey Demetriou headed the leveller.

A Tom King penalty save from a penalty for a handball by Liam Shephard, after the defender was pushed, kept the score at 1-1 but it was a tense finale in which one slip would have given Exeter City a chance.

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“It’s never ever going to be the simple way, it’s not in own DNA! I’m sure I’m meant to pass out on the touchline,” said Flynn.

“We never do it easy and there is always that little bit of drama, but I am just glad we are there. The players deserve all the accolades.

“It’s a massive achievement for us as a club and the players deserve the credit, they have been outstanding from day one and should be proud of themselves.”

FURIOUS: Michael Flynn was livid at refereeing decisions in Southend

County headed into the game on a strong run of form but weren’t at their best in Essex against a Southend side who have finished a miserable campaign impressively under Phil Brown.

“We conceded a poor goal and let’s be honest, we scored a poor goal even though it was a great header from Mickey,” said Flynn.

“The penalty was never a penalty and I told the assessor off as well, because it was a disgrace. Liam Shephard got pulled and it hit his hand – I don’t know what he was supposed to do.

“You just thought that everything was going against us. We weren’t very good today, we played a lot of good football up to the final third but didn’t penetrate too much.

“We played some really good football without creating much. It’s been our Achilles heel but we are in the play-offs and it’s a massive achievement.”