By Rob Cole

Robbie Willmott’s usual post-match celebrations are quiet moments with simple pleasures – “a cup of tea and a kit-kat.”

But things were a little bit more raucous on Tuesday night at the end of another FA Cup fairy-tale at Rodney Parade as he helped catapult Newport County into the fifth round of the world’s greatest club football tournament for the first time in 70 years with the opening goal in a 2-0 replay win over Middlesbrough.

Yet less than two years ago the 28-year-old Willmott was stacking shelves at a local supermarket, his dreams of reaching his full potential on the football field seemingly gone for ever.

Now his name is in all the headlines and he is preparing to go toe to toe with the likes of Sergio Aguero, Raheem Sterling and Kevin de Bruyne when mighty Manchester City descend on Newport for a fifth-round clash.

Willmott’s was just one of a handful of ‘Roy of the Rovers’ style stories to emerge from County’s two matches against Championships title contenders Middlesbrough in the fourth round.

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Firstly, there was Matty Dolan’s 94th minute equaliser at The Riverside against the club at which he spent almost a decade learning his football. Then there was goalkeeper Joe Day sprinting off the pitch after the 2-0 victory in the replay to get a taxi to the Royal Gwent Hospital to attend the birth of twins with his wife Lizzie.

But Willmott’s story is equalling compelling. It was his cross that produced the opening goal for Jamille Matt in the 2-1 win over Leicester City in round three and then his strike that gave County the lead on another remarkable night at Rodney Parade this week against Boro.

Now in his second spell with the Exiles, Willmott was on the bench at Wembley in 2013 when the club returned to the Football League with a 2-0 National League play-off final win over Wrexham. He was released a year later and his career went into free-fall.

He had spells at Ebbsfleet, Bishop’s Stortford and Chelmsford before quitting the game and taking a job at his local supermarket. He really has gone from zero to hero.

“When I was stacking shelves I used to think ‘what have I done?’ A lot of people said I should have played at a higher level, but I was thinking ‘this is probably me now’,” explained the 28-year-old Willmott, who is an England C international.

“I’ve had highs and lows, but I never imagined this, I could not have dreamed it. I took a lot of things for granted, as a lot of pros do, because you just think you’ll keep getting contract.

“A different regime came in at Newport, the budget was cut and unfortunately I was cut as well. I was ready to play part-time and work.

“I would have looked back on my career and thought ‘I’ve wasted my career’, but I managed to grind and work hard, find my love for football again and I managed to get back in the league.

“Last season was special, but this season has topped it. Everyone knows what the club means to me and my bond with supporters and it was great to be able to celebrate with them.”

His wonder strike from outside the box gave the Amber Army plenty to shout about and now everyone connected with the club can prepare to face one of the greatest club sides in the world game at present, Manchester City.

Pep Guardiola’s troupe of footballing millionaires will descend on Rodney Parade in two weeks time wondering which planet they have been sent to. It will be a far cry from the footballing cathedrals at which they normally ply their trade.

But that’s the beauty and magic of the FA Cup. The impossible can happen and the most unlikely characters can become the stars of the show.

“Everyone’s buzzing about Man City coming here. You saw how they played against Burton, but that was at the Etihad,” said Willmott.

“Coming to Rodney Parade is going to be a completely different task. They’re not going to be able to play free-flowing football on that, they’re going to have to change their game.

“We know what that pitch is like. In my first spell here they dug six trenches on the pitch – and I’ve seen a goalkeeper fall through a sand trench! You’ve just got to roll your sleeves up and grind the game out on that pitch.

“We’re going up against 11 footballers on the pitch, anyone is beatable on their day. We’ve beaten a Premier League side this season, who’ve won the Premier League. So there’s no reason why we can’t pull off a major shock.”

So, after his sojourn through non-league football and return to County, how does Willmott view himself in 2019? Is there more to come, or was Tuesday night going to be as good as it gets?

“Lots of people have said to me I could play higher, but for different reasons I haven’t. When I dropped out I thought this is going to be me now, play part-time and work and look back when I’ve finished and think I’ve wasted my career,” he admitted.

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“When I was playing for Chelmsford City in the Conference South I was working from six in the morning to one of two o’clock. Then I’d go home, probably do an hour in the gym, and that was my day.

“The turning point for me was probably training twice a week, because it’s just the same every day when you’re a pro. But with only two nights a week, I was buzzing for football – I couldn’t wait to get there and I couldn’t wait to play on a Saturday.

“I knew I only had those days to impress, so I managed to do that and get a few offers on the table in the summer. But this was the only club I was going to come back for.

“It hasn’t really sunk in yet that we’ll be playing against Man City. When they arrive here on a week Saturday, and we see them coming into the changing rooms, it’s going to be an amazing feeling.

“A lot of big sides underestimate us, and when they get to Rodney Parade they actually realise how hard it’s going to be. The crowd are on top of the players behind the dug-out, the pitch isn’t the best and we try and make this place a fortress.

“When Boro’s two strikers went off I think we knew they didn’t fancy it. We really fancied it even before the game at Middlesbrough.

“Everyone had a feeling and when we got here we said the same thing – ‘This is ours, this is our game to lose’.”

And it was a game they never looked like losing. They just needed a goal to settle the nerves and Willmott provided the goods with his timely first of the season

“I’m full of confidence at the moment, performances are really coming together. I hadn’t scored this season, so it was very special.

“It’s the magic of the FA Cup and that’s what it does to some players. I love it when the cameras are here, it’s time to impress everyone out there.”

He certainly did that alright! And for County manager Michael Flynn, it was further justification for bringing him back into the club and pinning his faith in his ability to torment defences and make teams hurt.

Having played with Willmott during the promotion season of 2012/13, Flynn knew all about his ability. The only surprise to the manager is that he didn’t climb the league ladder and play to his full potential.

“He should have played higher during his career, he is unbelievable really. I’ve got the best Robbie Willmott now because he is fully focused, not immature anymore and he is a joy to work with,” said an admiring Flynn.

“He has really grown since I first knew him and he even takes responsibility for the house that the players all share.”