NEWPORT County AFC have spent a grand total of 207 days in the League Two relegation zone this season but with just 13 days and two games remaining they finally have control of their own destiny.

The Exiles wallowed in the bottom two for 56 days between September 24 and November 19, when a 3-0 win at Notts County briefly saw them climb to 22nd.

But a last gasp defeat to Wycombe Wanderers on November 22 plunged Graham Westley’s side back into the drop zone where they remained for a further 151 days.

Until Saturday when Ryan Bird’s second-half header sealed a 1-0 win over Accrington Stanley and, with Hartlepool United beaten at home by Barnet, it was enough for County to finally clamber back out of the trap door.

The revival since Westley was sacked on March 9 – five days after a 4-0 home defeat to Leyton Orient left them 11 points from safety – has been nothing short of remarkable.

Westley won 19 points in his 24 matches in charge and his replacement Michael Flynn has now won 19 in just 10 games to put them fourth in the form table since he took over.

The appointment of Flynn as caretaker manager was a last throw of the dice by the board of directors and, against all odds, it looks like the hometown hero might just secure the club’s Football League status.

South Wales Argus:

Anyone witnessing the scenes of celebration after the final whistle at Rodney Parade on Saturday could be forgiven for thinking safety was already assured.

There was a party atmosphere throughout the final half hour as County led and news came through of Barnet putting Dave Jones’ Hartlepool to the sword.

Everyone but the visitors and their 74 travelling fans could have done without the five minutes of stoppage time, which turned into nearly seven, but relief mixed with belief at the end and that led to a hint of triumphalism.

Nobody could begrudge fans and players celebrating a hard-fought win over a team that arrived on the back of a 15-game unbeaten run and just two points off the play-offs.

And after so long below that dotted line it was only right to enjoy the moment.

But Flynn, his assistant Wayne Hatswell and first team management consultant Lennie Lawrence will be all too aware that nothing is settled yet and they will hammer home that message this week.

The trip to promotion hopefuls Carlisle United and a home clash with a vastly improved Notts County are by no means easy fixtures to end the campaign.

And, no matter how poor Hartlepool’s recent run, there could yet be more twists in this story.

Momentum is certainly with Flynn’s men, however, and there is a real determination to finish the job as soon as possible.

That Easter Monday massacre at Plymouth Argyle aside, this is a team that is almost unrecognisable from the shambles of Westley last match.

They are still not scoring enough goals – just 11 in 10 games – but four clean sheets in the last five tells you everything you need to know about the resilience that they have developed under Flynn.

After initially allowing the players to perform with freedom and confidence, the manager has inspired the players to dig deeper than ever before and the results are there for all to see.

The hope and the belief is that they will be able to produce one more big effort, or two if required, to turn what was a dream of the Great Escape into reality.

With just 13 days to go, safety is within touching distance for County. Time to grab it.

County: Day; Pipe, O’Brien, Demetriou, Butler; Randall (Barnum-Bobb, 85), Labadie, Owen-Evans; Rigg, Bird (Williams, 72), Samuel (Gordon, 90)

Subs not used: Bittner, Jones, Nelson, Myrie-Williams

Booked: Rigg, O’Brien, Owen-Evans

Referee: Mark Heywood

Attendance: 3,719 (74 Accrington)