NEWPORT County AFC manager Michael Flynn felt his side should have forced a winner against League Two leaders Exeter City after substitute Tristan Abrahams had cancelled out Lee Martin’s early opener with a second-half penalty.

County created the better chances after Martin had tapped in from a corner to give the Grecians the lead in the 15th minute.

They could have levelled through Jamille Matt before Abrahams, on at the break for Padraig Amond, sent Lewis Ward the wrong way from the spot on 64 minutes and they also had chances to win it late on.

“I thought we should have won the game,” said Flynn.

“In the second-half we were by far the better team.

“I just said to Jamille he should have had a hat-trick but he said he should have had four.

“For 15 to 20 minutes in the first-half they dominated, they switched the play well and they looked dangerous going forward but we grew into the game,” added the Exiles boss.

“In the second-half we had to open up and play with more pace.

“Podge [Amond] wasn’t really getting the service and we had to try and change it up.

“It worked and we were by far the better side in the second-half.”

South Wales Argus:

Flynn was also angry with some of the decisions made by referee Neil Hair and his assistants.

“We should have had a free-kick before the first goal,” he said.

“The corner was taken and it was a foul [on Joss Labadie].

“If it hadn’t been taken, fair enough but it had been taken. The referee said he blew the whistle before he took it but he didn’t.

“We still should have defended the corner better and Ryan Haynes has held his hands up for losing his man – I’ve got an honest bunch of lads.

“But the one incident I was fuming about was that, between the four of them [the officials], they missed a blatant stamp on our player [Josh Sheehan].

“It was disgusting and between the four officials nobody saw it. That cannot happen.

“If it was one of my players, I’d have dragged him off afterwards. “I’ve already told the referee. I don’t want anybody sent off for silly little things, but how the officials missed that I do not know.”

Read more: Newport County 1 Exeter City 1 - match report