NEWPORT County AFC threw away two points and then won them back again in a dramatic finale at Rodney Parade.

Notts County substitute Kristian Dennis thought he’d earned his side a point with a close-range finish on 87 minutes.

But Exiles sub Jamille Matt tapped in to give Michael Flynn’s men a deserved win in the fifth and final minute of stoppage time.

A first Exiles goal for Fraser Franks and a second in two games for Mark Harris had earlier cancelled out Kane Hemmings’ opener for the visitors at a raucous Rodney Parade.

The disjointed Magpies, who were thrashed 4-0 at home by Yeovil Town last week, never really recovered from that rapid turnaround and Flynn’s team could have won more comfortably.

But, after a crazy end to the match, two wins from two at home following a creditable 1-1 draw at promotion candidates Exeter City means the Exiles continue to climb the embryonic League Two table.

Harris was rewarded for his goal off the bench at Exeter with a starting spot in place of Matt, while David Pipe failed to recover from a knock picked up at St James Park and was replaced by Tyler Forbes.

Tyreeq Bakinson retained his place in central midfield with captain Andrew Crofts still sidelined by a toe infection.

And defender Mark O’Brien once again had to be content with a place on the bench as Franks, Scot Bennett and stand-in skipper Mickey Demetriou continued in the back three.

Franks and Bennett were both culpable as the visitors took the lead in the 12th minute.

Between them they let Hemmings wriggle free to convert Enzio Boldewijn’s tempting cross at the near post.

It took the Exiles a while to recover from the early setback and there were some shaky moments at the back as goalkeeper Joe Day misjudged a couple of clearances.

Notts nearly doubled their advantage after some good footwork in the box from former Wales international David Vaughan led to a scramble.

South Wales Argus:

But County eventually cleared the danger and they were level within two minutes as Franks headed in at the far post from Matty Dolan’s corner (above).

And the turnaround was complete just two minutes later as Flynn’s men pressed high and Dan Butler forced the Magpies defence into an error at the back.

Padraig Amond seized on the loose ball and teed up Harris brilliantly but the 19-year-old still had plenty of work to do.

His finish under pressure was superbly executed and Rodney Parade erupted as the ball bounced off the post and into the net.

The hosts started the second half in confident mood and Amond went agonisingly close to extending their lead two minutes after the restart.

The Irishman got a glancing header to Dolan’s free-kick but Notts goalkeeper Ross Fitzsimons got just enough of his body behind the ball to divert it to safety.

Amond then turned provider but his cross from the left was just headed away as Bakinson prepared to head in a third.

The hosts continued to look the most likely to add to the scoresheet and, after a knockdown by Demetriou, Amond was unlucky to see his hooked effort sail wide of Fitzsimon’s left-hand post.

Keanu Marsh-Brown replaced Josh Sheehan with 20 minutes remaining as Flynn looked for the goal that would wrap up the points.

It nearly came on 73 minutes when Harris played in Amond but Fitzsimons did brilliantly to keep out the striker’s close-range side-footed effort.

There were few scares at the other end with Day rarely tested before the dramatic finale.

He easily gathered a shot from substitute Tom Crawford and the Exiles looked set to see out the game with relative ease to claim another valuable three points before Dennis struck.

A high ball into the box from Boldewijn dropped over Butler and the substitute controlled it before firing past Day from close range.

To their credit, the Exiles refused to let their heads drop and they got the win they deserved in the end to send the home fans home on a real high.

County: Day; Franks, Bennett, Demetriou; Forbes, Bakinson, Dolan (Cooper, 83), Butler; Sheehan (Marsh-Brown, 70); Harris (Matt, 88), Amond

Subs not used: Townsend, Pipe, O’Brien, Semenyo

Booked: Sheehan, Bakinson

Referee: Alan Young

Attendance: 2,935 (185 Notts)

Argus star man: Dolan