Newport County suffered in Cumbria, losing against Carlisle United when the home team scored two minutes into injury time.
Manager Michael Flynn was bitterly upset after Newport County’s 3-2 League Two defeat against Carlisle United at Brunton Park.
“I’m gutted,” he said. “Apart from the opening 15 minutes the boys were absolutely outstanding. They played some of the best football this club will ever see.
“They were switching play, through balls and ripped them apart at times.
“But you can’t start games that way. We paid the price.
“We could, though, have had four penalties and should have had at least two stonewall penalties.”
Jamie Devitt scored twice for Carlisle inside the first 15 minutes and County had to chase the game. They fought back through Padraig Amond (39 mins) and San Butler (87) only to lose when Danny Grainger fired the winner after 92 minutes.
The defeat means County drop to sixth in League Two with two points separating the Exiles from the automatic promotion spots and the chasing pack looking for play-off spots.
Mike Flynn made three changes to his starting side. Scot Bennett and Mark O’Brien missed out through injury, Fraser Franks completed the final match of his suspension and Tyler Forbes stepped in to compose a five-man defence.
David Pipe, Mickey Demetriou and Dan Butler were the central defensive partnership, while Robbie Willmott showed his versatility by starting at left-wing-back.
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Tyreeq Bakinson recovered from his leg injury to replace Bennett, holding the line with Matty Dolan who both sat in-front of the advancing Josh Sheehan.
Antoine Semenyo returned to replace Jamille Matt, who could only make the bench after withdrawing late on last time out, and the Bristol City loanee partnered Padraig Amond up-front.
Carlisle went into this match with a dismal goalscoring record at home. They had gone eight hours without scoring at Brunton Park.
Ashley Nadesan set up the first goal when he went on a marauding run before cutting the ball back inside to George Glendon. His cross picked out Devitt and he fired home.
Three minutes later midfield player Devitt scored again when, from his short corner, he played a 1-2 with Jerry Yate. Former Morecambe and Rotherham player Devitt regained possession near the corner flag and the 28-year old somehow managed to squeeze a powerful shot through the host of players in the penalty area and into the near post.
Dan Butler and Robbie Willmott did well down the right for County, but centre-backs Gary Liddle and former Cardiff City player Anthony Gerrard were a strong unit at the back.
Amond gave Newport when he scored from a Willmott cross, heading in from 10 yards.
Just after the hour Flynn sent on substitute Jamille Matt for Forbes and switched to 4-3-3. Their reward came after 86 minutes when Butler equalised. HIs first effort was saved, but Butler reacted first to scored from close range.
That goal proved to be in vain when Grainger feed the winner from 20 yards. The match was two minutes into injury time when his shot flew into the top corner.
The next three County matches are all in different competitions.
They travel to play Metropolitan Police in Surrey next Saturday before facing Plymouth Argyle at home in the Football League Trophy the following Tuesday.
Newport then return to League Two duty when Colchester United visit South Wales on Saturday, November 17.
Carlisle United (3-5-2): Collin, Sowerby, Liddle, Gerrard, Gillesphey, Grainger (capt), Glendon (Bennett 66), Devitt, Jones (Slater 66), Yates, Nadesan. Subs not used: Gray, Miller, Campbell, Egan, McCarron.
Newport County AFC (3-5-2): Day, Forbes (Matt 66), Pipe, Demetriou (capt), Butler, Willmott, Bakinson, Dolan, Sheehan (Marsh-Brown 84), Amond, Semenyo (Harris 82). Subs not used: Townsend, Foulston, Cooper, Collins.
Referee: Christopher Sarginson
Attendance: 3,541 (136 away)