A FURIOUS Michael Flynn ripped into his players after they let slip a 2-1 lead to lose 3-2 after a dramatic finale at Crewe Alexandra.

Second-half strikes from Antoine Semenyo and Padraig Amond had put County on course for victory at Gresty Road.

But Crewe, who led 1-0 at half-time after Jordan Bowery’s 34th-minute opener, piled on the pressure late on and the Exiles collapsed to a fifth defeat in six league games.

First Fraser Franks pulled Bowery to the floor in the box to allow Chris Porter to level from the spot on 88 minutes, before Callum Ainley hammered home the winner in the second minute of stoppage time.

“We can’t defend, it’s as simple as that,” said Flynn.

“The wind played a big factor – that’s why we were the better team in the second half.

“We should have gone in more than 1-0 down. I thought Crewe deserved a 2-0 lead.

“Then we got back into it but I can’t make any excuses for the two goals we conceded.

“They were amateurish, poor, whatever you want to call it. It was terrible.”

On the penalty, Flynn said: “I don’t know what Fraser Franks was thinking.

“It was 100 per cent a penalty and it’s inexcusable.

“Then the third goal summed it up. It was comical, like something in a Carry On movie.”

The Exiles boss he felt his side should have won the game but he was forced to withdraw Semenyo before the end.

“We should have scored more but we had to take Antoine off because the referee said one more foul and he was going to send him off,” he explained.

“That disrupted things because he was dangerous, but we can’t defend as a team.

“I’m angry because they’re making the same mistakes.

“I don’t want to say too much because I’m angry and I don’t want to cross the line [in public]. I’ll do that behind closed doors.

“We should have seen the game out. Crewe didn’t look like scoring in the second half but they collapsed. It’s not good enough.”