Newport County ended a 15-match unbeaten run and delayed Accrington Stanley’s championship party at Rodney Parade.
“We were excellent,” said County manager Michael Flynn after a 2-1 win.
“It was a slow start, but we grew into the game, should have scored more and been a lot more comfortable.
“I’m still waiting to win a game without my blood pressure going through the ceiling.
“Accrington will win the league, 100 per cent, but I’m just glad they didn’t win it here.”
Stanley need one point to clinch the League Two title and could be crowned champions in their home fixture against Lincoln City on Saturday.
🎥| See what manager John Coleman had to say following the 2-1 defeat at @NewportCounty, Stanley's first defeat in 16 games.
Watch here ▶️ https://t.co/HRoPCOCBfW
— Accrington Stanley (@ASFCofficial) April 24, 2018
Padraig Amond, after half an hour, put Newport in front and Frank Nouble added their second with five minutes left.
Accrington pulled one back through Billy Kee in the 90th minute, but County held on for the victory.
Stanley manager John Coleman said: “Losing is something we’re not used to. For a long while we’ve been superb, but we didn’t turn up in the first-half and Newport were comfortably better than us.
“I feel for fans who made the trip and wanted a party, but when you come to places like this the home team are not going to want to let you party in their back garden.”
Newport County earned back-to-back victories at home for the first time since January.
Amond took his goals tally for the season to 14 when he finished off a flowing move involving Ben White, Robbie Willmott and Ben Tozer.
Goalkeeper Joe Day had to make three outstanding saves, denying both Kayden Jackson and Jordan Clark from close range before somehow blocking another Jackson attempt onto the post and away from danger.
Frank Nouble scored his first goal since January after 85 minutes, going past two defenders before curling his shot into the far corner from 25 yards.
Kee’s late goal gave Stanley hope, but this was Newport’s night.
Flynn made three changes to his starting line-up for the dismal showing at Barnet last weekend. Mark O’Brien returned in place of Scott Bennett, while Josh Sheehan and Nouble were also called up.
County stuck with his regular 3-5-2 formation with Willmott playing right wing-back in place of David Pipe and Sheehan operating in midfield.
Nouble took over from Aaron Collins in attack.
Accrington named the same starting side for a fifth successive match and set up in their familiar 4-4-2 formation with Kee and Kayden Jackson, who have scored 42 goals between, leading the line for Stanley.
Newport County: Day, Butler, Demetriou, O’Brien (capt), White, Willmott, Dolan, Sheehan (Collins 71), Tozer, Amond. Subs not used: Bittner, Pipe, Jackson, Reid, Jahraldo, Hayes.
Accrington Stanley: Chapman, Johnson (Zanzala 75), Dunne, Hughes, Donacien, Clark, Brown, Conneely (capt), McConville, Jackson, Kee. Subs not used: Richards-Everton, Nolan, Williams, Maxted, Sousa, Rodgers.
Referee: Lee Swabey
Attendance: 2,370 (189 away)
Newport’s remaining fixtures:
April
Saturday 28: Newport County v Cambridge United (3pm)
May
Tuesday 1: Chesterfield v Newport County (3pm)
Saturday 5: Carlisle United v Newport County (3pm)
League Two 2017-18
| | HOME | | AWAY | |||||||||||||
| P | W | D | L | F | A | W | D | L | F | A | GD | PTS | ||
| 1 | Accrington | 44 | 16 | 3 | 3 | 41 | 19 | 12 | 3 | 7 | 34 | 24 | +32 | 90 (P) |
| 2 | Luton | 44 | 16 | 2 | 4 | 59 | 23 | 8 | 10 | 4 | 32 | 22 | +46 | 84 (P) |
| 3 | Wycombe | 44 | 11 | 5 | 6 | 42 | 35 | 11 | 7 | 4 | 34 | 24 | +17 | 78 |
| 4 | Exeter | 44 | 14 | 4 | 4 | 33 | 19 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 29 | 32 | +11 | 77 |
| 5 | Notts Co | 44 | 14 | 6 | 2 | 43 | 19 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 27 | 27 | +24 | 76 |
| 6 | Lincoln | 44 | 12 | 7 | 3 | 37 | 22 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 26 | 24 | +17 | 74 |
| 7 | Coventry | 44 | 13 | 3 | 6 | 36 | 24 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 22 | 22 | +12 | 71 |
| 8 | Mansfield | 44 | 10 | 9 | 3 | 41 | 25 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 22 | 24 | +14 | 68 |
| 9 | Swindon | 44 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 26 | 36 | 11 | 2 | 9 | 38 | 29 | -1 | 64 |
| 10 | Carlisle | 44 | 7 | 9 | 6 | 30 | 22 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 29 | 30 | +7 | 63 |
| 11 | Colchester | 44 | 9 | 6 | 7 | 30 | 23 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 23 | 28 | +2 | 61 |
| 12 | Cambridge U | 44 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 33 | 23 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 17 | 35 | -8 | 61 |
| 13 | Newport Co | 43 | 8 | 10 | 4 | 30 | 23 | 7 | 5 | 9 | 23 | 32 | -2 | 60 |
| 14 | Crawley | 44 | 8 | 4 | 10 | 29 | 28 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 27 | 35 | -7 | 58 |
| 15 | Stevenage | 44 | 8 | 9 | 5 | 39 | 26 | 5 | 4 | 13 | 18 | 37 | -6 | 52 |
| 16 | Cheltenham | 44 | 8 | 6 | 8 | 30 | 25 | 5 | 6 | 11 | 35 | 40 | 0 | 51 |
| 17 | Crewe | 44 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 30 | 31 | 6 | 1 | 15 | 28 | 42 | -15 | 50 |
| 18 | Port Vale | 44 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 25 | 27 | 4 | 8 | 10 | 23 | 33 | -12 | 47 |
| 19 | Yeovil | 44 | 8 | 5 | 9 | 27 | 23 | 4 | 6 | 12 | 29 | 48 | -15 | 47 |
| 20 | Forest Green | 44 | 10 | 2 | 10 | 35 | 33 | 3 | 6 | 13 | 18 | 38 | -18 | 47 |
| 21 | Morecambe | 44 | 6 | 9 | 7 | 22 | 26 | 3 | 9 | 10 | 19 | 29 | -14 | 45 |
| 22 | Grimsby | 44 | 5 | 9 | 8 | 18 | 25 | 6 | 3 | 13 | 19 | 40 | -28 | 45 |
| 23 | Barnet | 44 | 7 | 6 | 9 | 21 | 25 | 3 | 4 | 15 | 21 | 40 | -23 | 40 |
| 24 | Chesterfield | 43 | 7 | 3 | 11 | 25 | 31 | 2 | 5 | 15 | 20 | 47 | -33 | 35 (R) |