MICHAEL Flynn celebrated a “fairy tale” ending for his side as Matty Dolan came back to haunt his boyhood club and earn Newport County AFC an FA Cup fourth-round replay against Middlesbrough.
Hartlepool-born Dolan, who was released by Boro in 2014 without making a first-team appearance, came off the bench to cancel out Daniel Ayala’s header with a tap-in in the third minute of time added on.
“It was unbelievable,” said Flynn. “You can’t write that – Matty is an ex-Middlesbrough player and he had 40 of his friends and family in the crowd.
“He was disappointed not to start and I don’t think he’s ever scored a goal inside the box. It’s a fairy tale, really!
“I said to my assistant that we had to give Matty a game. I’m not soft but I do have a little bit of sentiment and I try to look after all my players.
“You can’t put all of them on but we thought, with the quality of his left foot, we might get a set-play and he’d be able to deliver one or score one. And, thankfully, he did just that.
“It makes the long journey worthwhile.”
Flynn’s men had the better of the chances in the first half and stand-in Exiles goalkeeper Nick Townsend didn’t have a save to make before the break.
Joe Day’s deputy made his first stop five minutes after the restart as he denied Britt Assombalonga but Ayala then headed in from the corner.
“Joe’s wife is expecting twins and they could be here this weekend,” explained Flynn. “For me, family is the most important thing and what’s more special in life than watching your partner give birth?
“I didn’t want to bring him and have him not quite concentrating.
“We wish Lizzie and Joe all the best and, hopefully she has them soon because I don’t want to be missing him for too long.
“But I thought Nick was brilliant. He was absolutely outstanding.
“He made two really good saves and his distribution, bar one or two, was excellent.
“I could hear him organising the back four as well. I thought he was brilliant.”
Townsend was tested by Lewis Wing, who had hit the bar in the first half, and George Saville but it was County who finished the strongest.
Antoine Semenyo headed wide and then blazed a volley over three minutes from time before Dolan earned a replay at Rodney Parade almost the last kick of the game.
“It tells me that my players’ mentality is strong and they learn from their mistakes,” said Flynn.
“A few weeks ago we went to Crewe and we were winning 2-1 with a few minutes go and we lost.
“Today we were losing and we turned it around. Sometimes it’s just concentration levels and consistency, but they’re a great group and I’m so proud.
“These players have given the fans memories that they will never forget.”
But there will be no celebrations as his side return to League Two action on Tuesday night at home to Port Vale.
“I’ve told them they’re going to have to do their celebrating in the summer,” added the manager. “We’ve got games on Saturday-Tuesday-Saturday-Tuesday now for the next six weeks.”
Read more: Match report from the Riverside as County hold Boro
Read more: Re-live all the action as it happened at the Riverside
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