NEWPORT County’s hero of the hour Lee Minshull admitted Saturday’s win at York is tainted by the Exiles’ failure to make the play-offs.

Minshull, among those who is facing an uncertain future with his contract up this summer, played a starring role for County at Bootham Crescent, skippering the side on his return from injury and playing as a central defender.

The former Wimbledon man helped his side to a somewhat fortuitous clean sheet and also scored County’s second, a firm header from a well worked set-piece routine.

However, the victory was the first in six with the Exiles having lost four of the spin and Plymouth’s victory over Tranmere ensures that Jimmy Dack’s men can’t now make the play-offs due to their inferior goal difference.

““It was a really good team effort and I think we needed it. It showed real character. The form we’ve been in has not been great and it took a lot of character for the boys to go out there and perform like that,” Minshull explained.

“But as proud as we are of the performance today, we are also disappointed that we haven’t given ourselves a better chance of getting in the play-offs.

“The goal difference looks unassailable now, which we are all disappointed about, but I think it was very good to get a win – not only for the fans who have come to watch us but for the changing room too. It’s not nice to be going in after a game and analysing losses.

“It was great to get that win, and a clean sheet, and it sets us up nicely for the home game next week.”

Minshull praised Kevin Feely and Regan Poole for helping him cope with his new position as a centre back.

“The boys around me did a great job. I’ve done it before though not so much at this club (playing at centre back). I didn’t find out until the morning of the game but I think, to be fair, the manager protected me. As I hadn’t trained for two weeks he probably thought I’d be a bit more protected there.

“Young Regan Poole to the left of me, and Kevin Feely to the right of me played like they were the senior pros. They looked after me.”

However, Minshull admits even though County have exceeded expectations for the campaign, there remains a feeling of ‘what if’ within the camp.

“To be in with a shout with two games to play, we’d have all accepted that pre-season,” he said.

“But having been in such a commanding position, obviously, it does leave a bit of a sour note to miss out but when you look at the fact there are much bigger teams nowhere near the play-offs we can be very proud as a club.

“It’s nice to have a home game to finish. It will be nice to give everyone a good send-off.”