A FRUSTRATED Michael Flynn felt his side deserved all three points from a hugely entertaining 3-3 draw with Carlisle United at Rodney Parade.

Flynn’s Newport County AFC side led 1-0 at the break thanks to Shawn McCoulsky’s close-range effort on 43 minutes.

But sloppy defending saw them trail 2-1 after 52 minutes as two Tom Miller long throws into the box were not dealt with.

Luke Joyce poked in Carlisle’s first in the first minute of the second half and Kelvin Etuhu lashed his side ahead soon afterwards.

Matty Dolan levelled on 56 minutes with a beauty of a free-kick but the Exiles were behind again six minutes later when former player Miller headed through Joe Day’s legs at the far post.

Another stunning free-kick from Dolan rescued a point on 69 minutes but Flynn’s men couldn’t find a winner, despite Joss Labadie and Dan Butler both going agonisingly close at the death.

“It wasn’t a fair result, not by a long shot,” said the Exiles boss.

“We totally outplayed one of our play-off rivals and we’ve gifted them a point.

“The disappointing thing is the goals we conceded but the positive thing is the fightback that my players showed.

“They could have felt sorry for themselves at 2-1 and 3-2 down.

“A lot of teams would have folded but Matty Dolan puts another free-kick in the top corner and then Labadie misses two chances at the end and the goalkeeper pulls off a top save from Dan Butler.

“That’s what we’re about. I’m disappointed by the goals we conceded but, other than that, it was a fantastic performance.”

The draw sees County drop to 12th in the League Two table but they are now just one point below Coventry City in seventh.

Carlisle manager Keith Curle said: “I’m disappointed with the manner of the free-kicks, for a robust, physical team they seemed to go down very quickly.

“Whether that be slipping on the surface or whatever, they didn’t need much aid to go to ground because they probably know they’ve got a good delivery from free-kicks.

“They can put the ball in dangerous areas or in the corners of the net so they try to gain an advantage.

“The referee got encouraged and sucked in to giving silly free-kicks when they were probably good tackles.

“They are a set-piece team, their style of play shows that. When the ball is at the back, they don’t look to play they abandon the area.

“I’m a little bit frustrated after taking the lead twice then conceding the goals we did, but they were good strikes right in the corner.”