WALES boss Ryan Giggs switched on the Christmas lights in Newport on Saturday evening, just minutes after watching Michael Flynn and his Newport County AFC side light up Rodney Parade with a dazzling defeat of promotion rivals Colchester United.

A first win over the U’s since 1981 was met with a huge firework display from across the river after the final whistle and it saw County rocket back up to third in the League Two table.

They were made to work for the three points with the visitors, who started the weekend in third place, edging a tight first 45 minutes when neither side produced much in the way of pyrotechnics.

But the Exiles caught fire after the break, scoring the crucial first goal nine minutes after the restart when man of the match Padraig Amond flicked on a Matty Dolan corner for Jamille Matt to tap in his 11th of the season.

And substitute Cameron Pring, who replaced the injured Robbie Willmott before the break, added the second with a cool finish from Tyreeq Bakinson’s defence-splitting ball on 67 minutes.

Courtney Senior saw a shot deflected onto the bar for Colchester and former County striker Frank Nouble’s effort was cleared off the line by Amond but Pring could have added a third at the death and Flynn’s men were worthy winners.

“I’ve got no problem in saying Colchester were the better team in the first-half, without creating much,” admitted the Exiles boss.

“They had the majority of possession and they caused us problems with their movement. They’re a good team.

“They’re missing a few players, as we are, and it was about whoever scored first. But it could have been 3-0 in the end.

“I thought it was an excellent performance, even if in the first half we were like the away team. That’s fine by me – it shows that we can do both sides of the game.”

County took their chances when they came and, at the other end, Mickey Demetriou and Fraser Franks kept Nouble quiet to earn a third successive clean sheet.

“Our defending all over the pitch was first class,” added Flynn.

“We blocked when we had to, closed down when we needed to. OK, they played around us a little bit in the first half but they didn’t really create anything.”

Flynn reserved the highest praise for striker Amond, who started up front alongside Matt before dropping back into midfield in the second half and even excelling in defence late on.

“I thought he was absolutely first class,” said the manager. “He was excellent. He didn’t do anything spectacular but his movement, his positioning, his awareness and his understanding of the game was unbelievable.

“When he gets a little bit slower, he might be able to play that holding role in midfield. I won’t tell him that yet, though.”

Colchester manager John McGreal felt his side, who drop to fourth, deserved more from the game.

“The first goal we conceded was a poor one for us to give away,” said the former Premier League defender.

“I thought we bossed it for 55 minutes and then they got the goal. We had to change one or two things but then we conceded a poor second goal.

“It was a tight game. We had a lot of possession without overly creating and I don't remember [goalkeeper] Dillon [Barnes] doing anything.

“It's a tough one to take with the amount of fans that we brought.

“We're coming away from home against a side that's sixth knowing what game they're going to give you and we got it.

“I thought we were a little bit wasteful in our final passing and attacking third in the first half.

“But we started the second half particularly well and we had to dig in.

“They get the ball in long into your back four and we've been dealing with it all week.

“We did that in the first half but people have knocked off for the first goal.

“We didn't give in and we kept going but it wasn't our day.”

County: Day; Pipe, Franks, Demetriou, Butler; Willmott (Pring, 34), Dolan (O’Brien, 90), Bakinson, Semenyo (Harris, 86); Amond, Matt

Subs not used: Townsend, Cooper, Sheehan, Hillman

Booked: Pipe

Referee: Roger East

Attendance: 3,512 (231 Colchester)