LEE MINSHULL is Newport County’s winter wonder man, and he’s determined to continue ploughing down opponents.

The 28-year old scored his second of the campaign on Saturday at Accrington, showing he has ice in his blood with a cool finish deep into added on time to rescue a 3-3 draw.

However, despite only having been recalled to the side on Saturday, Minshull’s key goal and fine display wouldn’t have surprised anyone who follows the Exiles.

Minshull scored his only goal in the 2011-12 campaign for Newport in February and last term five of his six strikes for the season came in January and February when his form and goal ratio tends to snowball.

Manager Justin Edinburgh paid tribute to the midfielder, nicknamed the Tank for his uncompromising style, by claiming that he “changes with the weather and becomes vitally important to the team.”

And the midfielder admits he’s hopeful history is about to repeat itself.

“It happened last year, it came to the winter and everything went right for me and hopefully it’ll happen again,” he said.

“It happened on Saturday, I was thrilled to get the late goal and I felt it was the least we deserved out of the game.

“The goal was a strange one, it was like slow motion and it seemed like I had about half an hour to score it!

“Robbie put in a great ball and I gambled that he’d do exactly that and thankfully it came off.”

Minshull is under no illusions about the need to perform on a regular basis.

“But I have to play well don’t I? The competition for places is fierce throughout the squad and central midfield is no different,” he said.

“People are coming back (from injury), the squad is getting stronger and hopefully I can keep scoring and playing well and keep my place.”

Minshull felt that the Exiles deserved at least a point from a tricky trip on Saturday and believes his late equaliser gives the club something to build on.

The Exiles were only seconds away from suffering a third successive league defeat for the first time under manager Edinburgh, but were rescued by Minshull’s late show.

“We were upset with the goals we conceded, but it’s a good point for us and you do feel when you got 3-2 down in 89 minutes, you feel it’s going to be game over,” he said.

“But the boys showed huge character, we are happy and for me personally it’s nice to be on the score sheet, it stops the rot and gives us something to build on.

“We started well but we switched off and were 2-1 down and then got caught from a set-piece.

“In the end we just feel happy to not get beaten.”