SUBSTITUTE George Nurse earned Newport County AFC a 1-0 win over Carlisle United with a dramatic late winner at Rodney Parade. Here are the talking points...

Nurse gives Exiles a massive shot in the arm

County needed a hero and up stepped George Nurse with an absolute rocket into the top corner from 30 yards to win all three points at the death.

It was a special moment for the 20-year-old Bristol City loanee as he notched his first Football League goal in spectacular style and put a frustrating few months behind him.

Nurse has struggled with niggling injuries and had to watch from the sidelines as Ryan Haynes has made the left-back/left wing-back role his own. He’ll find it hard to dislodge Haynes but could the two play together down the left?

It’s never over, until it’s over

In 12 league games so far this season, County have scored six goals in the final 15 minutes of matches – securing 1-0 home wins over Carlisle, Port Vale, Crewe Alexandra and Plymouth Argyle and cementing 2-0 wins at Forest Green Rovers and Swindon Town.

They’ve never left it quite as late as they did on Saturday, but the Exiles once again proved that they will always fight to the end.

Like Port Vale, Crewe and Plymouth before them, Carlisle thought they’d done enough to claim a point in Newport but Rodney Parade regulars now know that you can’t afford to leave early to beat the traffic because you might just miss that crucial moment.

South Wales Argus:

Winning without playing well a good sign for County

Just like the match against Crewe six weeks earlier, County struggled to create chances and looked devoid of ideas and inspiration at times before stealing all three points in stoppage time.

Manager Michael Flynn felt his side performed better against Carlisle than they had against Crewe, but he admitted that they didn’t deserve to win the game.

And, while it was a poor spectacle for the fans at Rodney Parade, it’s a great sign that this side can win while not at their best and Nurse’s moment of inspiration sent everyone home happy – apart from the 167 travelling fans.

County missed Labadie’s leadership and energy

Joss Labadie has been working his way back to his best form this season and he was superb in last week’s impressive win at Swindon Town but the skipper was ruled out due to an ankle problem aggravated in training on Friday.

His ability to drive the team forward from midfield and make something happen was sorely missed on a frustrating afternoon when County didn’t look like scoring.

But, with next week’s trip to Cheltenham Town postponed, it’s likely that Labadie will be fit in time for the next League Two match at home to struggling Scunthorpe United on October 19.

Read more: Newport County boss admits 1-0 win is harsh on Carlisle United