ROBBIE Willmott admitted he enjoyed getting one over his old club after his last-gasp equaliser earned County a point against Cambridge United.

The Exiles produced a dominant display against the Us, who opted to allow Willmott to leave for Newport for free, just six months after he signed a new deal at the club.

He got plenty of stick from Cambridge’s travelling fans on Monday evening but got the last laugh when he fired home the leveller after Luke Chadwick scored with the visitors’ only effort on goal.

And Willmott was impressed with County’s overall performance, believing it bodes well for a successful season.

“We couldn’t believe we weren’t winning at half time, it was probably the best performance, the best we’ve played in my time at the club,” he said.

“We got something in the end which we deserved and hopefully we take the performance into Saturday.”

And of the Cambridge fans, Willmott pulled no punches.

“For me personally, it was very nice to get the goal. You take the abuse, you take the abuse, you take the personal comments, it is all part and parcel of leaving a football club, but then when you score you let rip,” he said.

“I’m thankful to score against them, I expected stick from them, they tell me ‘money this, money that, you left us,’ but people don’t know why I left. I signed a two-year contract at the club for the right reasons and six months into that I was gone. So something obviously went on at the club.

“But I am loving my football here and getting the point for the lads means more than putting one over on the Cambridge fans.”

Willmott believes Newport are an emerging force in League Two and is happy to play his part, be it as a defender, a wingback or higher up the pitch. Willmott was playing as a number 10 by the time his goal came.

“We kept going, we’ve shown the levels we can get to in the Burton and Cambridge games and we’ve got belief the wins are going to come, even though on Monday it started to feel we were never going to score.

“We ground out a deserved point on Tuesday and we will build from it, we are starting to pick up, the performances are coming and we’ll move up the table rapidly.

“I enjoyed the chance to play as a number 10, I believe I could play there, but wherever I’m needed I’ll play, as long as I’m in the team I’m happy.”

And Willmott also heaped praise on Mark Jones and his staff for the condition of the Rodney Parade pitch.

“It is fantastic and we’ve got the chance to show how we want to play, getting it down with the midfield picking their passes. The pitch has been a massive help for us this season,” he said.