NEWPORT County AFC showed remarkable powers of recovery to rip apart League Two basement boys Notts County just three days after their battling defeat to Premier League champions Manchester City.

Two goals from Jamille Matt and one each from Fraser Franks and Padraig Amond gave the rampant Exiles a 4-1 victory at Meadow Lane.

It was a first win on the road in the league since September 22 and it gives the Exiles’ flagging play-off hopes a big shot in the arm with the major distraction of the FA Cup now out of the way.

Franks replaced Tyreeq Bakinson, who was so close to finding the net against City, in the one change from Saturday night.

And he made a telling impact as he ventured forward inside the first 10 minutes and lashed in the opening goal after great work from Robbie Willmott on the left of the penalty area.

It was the perfect start for the Exiles, but they held the lead for only 59 seconds as the hosts continued to fight for their lives at the wrong end of the table.

Joe Day got down well to keep out Jim O’Brien’s powerful drive but Kane Hemmings was in the right place to nod in the rebound from close range.

Flynn’s men weren’t deterred, however, and they continued to attack with confidence and a high tempo that the hosts simply could not handle.

Goalkeeper Ryan Schofield did well to palm away a vicious volley from Amond in the 12th minute, but he had no chance when Matt restored the Exiles’ lead three minutes later.

Willmott was again the provider, drilling a cross that Amond nodded back for his strike partner to head into the top corner from close range.

The Magpies looked shaky at the back with every attack causing panic in their defence.

But they still offered a threat going forward and both Joss Labadie and Scot Bennett picked up bookings trying to stop quick breakaways.

Virgil Gomis then saw a shot deflected just wide and Lewis Alessandra was inches away from a tempting Enzio Boldewijn cross.

The visitors could breathe easier, though, when Matt added his second of the game and his 17th of the season in the 33rd minute.

A long throw from Mickey Demetriou caused chaos in the box with Matt getting his head to it before Labadie hooked a shot goalwards, which hit Mark O’Brien and bounced up for Matt to finish with an acrobatic overhead kick.

Amond almost added a fourth before the break with a header that was well saved by Schofield after a superb run and cross from Bennett down the left flank.

South Wales Argus:

And the Irishman got the goal he deserved for another barnstorming performance just 90 seconds after the interval, powering home a header from Matt’s cross.

That was the 30-year-old’s 20th goal of the season and it put the result beyond any doubt.

Amond and teammates were rampant and Labadie was so close to making it five with a curling shot from 25 yards that beat Schofield and crashed back off the inside of the post.

Another dipping volley from Amond had Schofield scrambling again but the ball skimmed the roof of the net.

The hosts brought on experienced strike duo Jon Stead and Craig Mackail-Smith and the former went close with an effort that curled into the side netting.

Jim O’Brien forced Day into a fine fingertip save as Neal Ardley’s men tried in vain to force their way back into the contest and Stead fired over from the resulting corner.

Harry McKirdy made his debut from the bench late on as Flynn’s men held off a late fightback to cruise to a morale-boosting victory.

County: Day; O’Brien, Franks (Dolan, 81), Demetriou; Willmott, Bennett, Poole, Butler; Labadie (Sheehan, 90); Amond, Matt (McKirdy, 84)

Subs not used: Townsend, Pipe, Bakinson, Kennedy

Booked: Labadie, Bennett

Referee: Simon Hooper

Attendance: 6,253 (116 County)

Argus star man: Matt

Read more: Flynn hails 'perfect away performance'