Robbie Willmott is intent on repeating a major Newport County memory.

The winger from Essex, a former Cambridge United and Luton Town player, is back with the Exiles five years after helping the Welsh club return to the Football League.

County defeated Wrexham in the 2013 play-off final at Wembley Stadium and were back in the top four division for the first time in 25 years.

Now manager Michael Flynn and his team feel they are ready for the next step – and Willmott gave them a massive boost when he scored with a shot from 30 yards against Exeter City.

Newport won 2-1 and they are in 11th place in League Two, only three points outside the play-offs.

There is a long way to go this season, with another 20 fixtures to play, but Newport are prepared to battle every step of the way.

Devon club Exeter dropped three places to seventh after goals by Padraig Amond and Willmott sent them crashing.

Amond headed County ahead from Willmott’s cross after six minutes, Jayden Stockley equalised and then came Willmott’s winner midway through the second half.

Now Flynn can put Newport’s play-off hopes to the back of his mind and he can focus on strengthening his squad during the January transfer window and that big Emirates FA Cup third round tie against Leeds United at Rodney Parade next Sunday (Noon).

Newport recalled captain Joss Labadie after he had served a one-match suspension with Tom Owen-Evans the man to drop out of the starting line-up.

Exeter manager Paul Tisdale rotated his squad and made five changes to his team who had beaten Barnet 2-1 with a 94th minute winner.

Three of those changes came in the Grecians defence as Hiram Boateng and Kane Wilson dropped to the bench while Jordan Moore-Taylor missed out completely.

Pierce Sweeney, Troy Archibald-Henville and Craig Woodman were called up, while Ryan Harley and Lloyd James returned in midfield.

Tisdale opted for a 4-5-1 formation with 6ft 3ins former Aberdeen forward Stockley their lone striker.

But this was Newport’s day. They made a welcome start to 2018, earning their first win against Exeter City at home in 30 years.

Newport County: Day, Pipe, Bennett, Demetriou, White, Butler, Labadie (C), Dolan (Owen-Evans 82’), Willmott, Nouble (McCoulsky 90+3), Amond. Subs not used: Bittner, Reynolds, Tozer, Foulston, Touray

Exeter City: Pym, Sweeney, Seaborne (Reid 82), Archibald-Henville, Woodman, Taylor, Harley, Tillson, James (Holmes 65), Moxey, Stockley (McAlinden 89). Subs not used: Hamon, Wilson, Edwards, Boateng

Referee: Robert Lewis

Attendance: 3,380 (499 away)