NOT for the first time of late, Michael Flynn's post-match assessment was dominated by the F-word – frustration.

This was a match that was full of mistakes and, Matty Dolan's two superb free-kicks aside, lacking in genuine quality but the second half in particular provided a thrilling spectacle for both sets of fans.

As far as Flynn is concerned, however, it was a missed opportunity and two more points dropped.

His Newport County AFC side edged the first half and deservedly led 1-0 at the break thanks to Shawn McCoulsky's confident strike on 43 minutes.

But they undid all their hard work within 40-odd seconds of the restart and were behind on 52 minutes as two long throws from ex-County man Tom Miller led to some calamitous defending and two gift-wrapped goals for Carlisle United.

The Exiles showed tremendous spirit to level through Dolan's expertly taken free-kick four minutes later.

And he repeated the trick with an even better strike into the top corner from 30 yards on 69 minutes after Miller had headed in a third for the visitors following yet more sloppy defending at the other end.

"We were excellent after the first 10 minutes of the first half," argued Flynn.

"We passed the ball non-stop, side to side, making through-balls, third man runs, they were excellent.

"We got the goal and we were 1-0 up.

"I was walking out for the second half with Lennie [Lawrence] and the last thing we said was 'they're going to have to come up with something good unless we do something silly' and I could not believe it.

"It was the first minute and we did something silly alright."

Flynn insisted that his side deserved all three points and the statistics back him up with County having 23 shots to Carlisle's 11.

And the hosts certainly created the better opportunities and looked the more likely to win it in the closing stages with Frank Nouble, Joss Labadie and Dan Butler all going agonisingly close.

"We outplayed them and even at the end in injury time we created three chances," added Flynn.

"It was 23 opportunities we created and they blocked nine of them.

"So it was good defending from Carlisle, up to a point, and it's just unfortunate that we gave those sloppy goals away."

But he will know that you won't win many games if you give away three goals like they did on Saturday.

Goalkeeper Joe Day was perhaps slow off his line and failed to dominate his box but Mark O'Brien, Mickey Demetriou and Dan Butler were indecisive and allowed themselves to be bullied by the Cumbrians at times.

It left the manager and the home fans frustrated and the result saw County slip to 12th in the table.

The mid-table position sees Flynn's men 11 points off top spot and 11 points off the bottom two after 21 games.

But the top half is so congested that they are still well in the play-off race – only three points separate Wycombe Wanderers in fifth and the Exiles in 12th.

And they are now just a point below Coventry City in seventh with everything to play for over the hectic Christmas schedule.

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

Booked: Nouble, Willmott

Referee: Lee Swabey

Attendance: 3,176