TWO Matty Dolan free-kicks rescued a point for Newport County AFC as they shared six goals with Carlisle United in a thriller at Rodney Parade.

County led 1-0 at the break through Shawn McCoulsky’s close-range effort but the game exploded into life after the break.

Carlisle took advantage of some shocking defending to score twice in seven minutes.

Dolan then levelled for the first time before former Exiles man Tom Miller headed the visitors in front once more.

But Dolan curled in a second free-kick to seal a dramatic draw.

The point sees County drop to 12th in the table but they are just one point below Coventry City in seventh.

There was little sign of the end-to-end entertainment in a fairly sedate first half.

Robbie Willmott had returned to the starting XI in place of Ben Tozer in the one change from last Sunday’s FA Cup win over Cambridge United.

He slotted into central midfield alongside Dolan, with last week’s two-goal hero Joss Labadie furthest forward in support of Frank Nouble and McCoulsky.

The visitors started brightly with Reggie Lambe, a former County trialist, and Etuhu getting forward to support Richie Bennett up front.

Those two combined well in the ninth minute as Lambe’s free-kick was headed over the bar by former Cardiff City loan player Etuhu.

The Exiles took a while to get going before Mickey Demetriou forced Jack Bonham into a fine save in the 16th minute.

Otherwise their main threat came from a succession of corners but Carlisle appeared to have done their homework well and managed to keep defend the set-pieces comfortably.

Wilmott’s poor touch meant he was closed down and his shot from inside the box was blocked before Dolan and McCoulsky tested Bonham from distance.

A rare Ben White error allowed Lambe a sight of goal at the other end but Exiles goalkeeper Joe Day caught the ball with ease as it headed for the top corner.

That let-off led to the hosts cranking it up a gear and Dolan went close with a volley before Dan Butler cut in from the left and curled a shot over the bar from 20 yards.

A goal was coming and it duly arrived two minutes before the interval from a Willmott free-kick.

Bonham came out to claim the ball but missed it and McCoulsky was on the spot to stab it in.

South Wales Argus:

County were on course for a fourth successive home win over the Cumbrians but the game was turned on its head within seven minutes of the second half.

Both of the visitors’ goals came from long throws from former County utility man Miller that caused chaos in the box.

The first came just 40 seconds after the restart as Mark O’Brien failed to clear and Luke Joyce poked in from a yard out.

The second arrived on 52 minutes as the ball made it all the way to Etuhu on the far side of the area and he slammed it low and hard past Day.

County were shell-shocked and they needed a quick response.

Dolan duly delivered it with a superb free-kick four minutes later, curling his shot inside the post from 25 yards to level the match.

But Carlisle’s tails were up and they forged ahead for a second time on 62 minutes.

It came from a short corner, Mike Jones fed Tom Parkes and his cross was headed in through Day’s legs by the influential Miller.

Michael Flynn’s men looked down and out but they regrouped and almost levelled when Labadie’s shot was deflected inches wide.

And it was that man Dolan who stepped up to the plate again with an even better free-kick to make it 3-3 on 69 minutes, curled into the same corner but from a further five yards out.

The home fans sang ‘We’re Newport County, we’ll fight to the end’ as they lapped up an enthralling second half.

Still the chances came. McCoulsky waited too long to get his shot away after a good break before Day was forced to beat away a Jones piledriver.

Labadie sent another effort just the wrong side of the post in the first of five minutes of time added on and then headed agonizingly over before Dan Butler was denied at the death.

But neither side could find a winner and neither side deserved to lose on a day to remember at Rodney Parade.

County: Day; White, O’Brien, Demetriou; Pipe (Reynolds, 54), Dolan, Willmott, Butler; Labadie; Nouble, McCoulsky (Amond, 83)

Subs not used: Bittner, Bennett, Owen-Evans, Rigg, Touray

Referee: Lee Swabey

Attendance: 3,176

Argus star man: Dolan