MICHAEL Flynn was angry and frustrated after Newport County AFC went down to their first League Two defeat of the season against leaders Exeter City at St James Park.

The County manager labelled the decision by referee John Brooks to deny his side a first-half goal “disgusting” and he was left to rue a host of missed chances from his team.

As it was, Lee Holmes fired the only goal of the game on 58 minutes to keep Exeter top of the table and see the Exiles slip down from second to seventh.

But Flynn felt his side should have been ahead before the break when Padraig Amond headed in from Mickey Demetriou’s long throw only for the goal to be ruled out after the referee spotted a foul on Exeter goalkeeper Chrysty Pym.

“I’m very frustrated,” said Flynn. “It was a massive decision from the referee in the first half to disallow our goal – there was nothing wrong with it.

“It’s a disgusting decision. But what do you do?”

Flynn was equally upset by his side’s profligacy in front of goal and by what he saw as a mistake from Mickey Demetriou in the build up to Holmes’ winner.

“I’m not going to moan too much because if we’d taken our chances in the first half we would have won comfortably,” he said.

“And then we go and gift them a goal by not putting the ball out of play.

“I’m not convinced that it was a foul. I thought he should have just put the ball in the stand. It’s a mistake and hopefully one we learn from.”

Nouble almost levelled but his shot rebounded off the post from 25 yards but the hosts had plenty of chances to extend their lead as County chased the game in the closing stages.

“We’ve come to Exeter who lost in the play-off final last season and we took the game to them,” added the manager.

“But I just feel like we missed too many chance in the first half.

“I’m gutted for the lads because they’ve put in a very good performance against a very good League Two team.

“There are a lot of positives for us to take but I’m just disappointed that we didn’t take our chances.”