NEWPORT County AFC went down to a 2-1 defeat at Swindon Town as the hosts held off a spirited fightback from the Exiles to take all three points thanks to Kaiyne Woolery’s 82nd-minute winner.

County thought they had won a hard-earned point as Padraig Amond’s 11th goal of the season just after half-time cancelled out Michael Doughty’s early opener for the hosts.

They could even have forced a winner themselves in an entertaining second half but Woolery’s strike meant Michael Flynn’s men left the County Ground empty handed and they drop to sixth in the League Two table as a result.

Flynn made seven changes from Tuesday’s Checkatrade Trophy tie at Cheltenham Town as he reverted to the starting XI from last Saturday’s FA Cup clash at Wrexham.

And his side looked just as disjointed as they had at The Racecourse Ground in a first 45 minutes that was dominated by the hosts.

There were just 61 seconds on the clock when Doughty drilled the ball past Fraser Franks and Joe Day and into the bottom corner.

There was almost an instant response as Josh Sheehan was put through on goal at the other end but he dragged his shot wide.

Bakinson also headed off target soon afterwards but the remainder of the first 45 minutes was pretty much one-way traffic as the hosts, with the wind at their backs, took the game to the Exiles.

Scott Twine was denied a penalty when he fell dramatically in the box but County were thankful to Day on 17 minutes as the goalkeeper tipped an Elijah Adebayo curler onto the post.

Doughty almost bagged his second of the match when he spotted Day off his line and his lob from 25 yards out only just cleared the bar and Matty Taylor also had the goalkeeper at full stretch as he tried his luck from distance.

Flynn had seen enough and he made a tactical switch with Antoine Semenyo replacing David Pipe after just 26 minutes.

That meant Franks moved across to right-back in a 4-3-3 formation but there was little immediate effect as Swindon continued to look dangerous.

Woolery saw a shot comfortably saved by Day before Ellis Iandolo pounced on a wayward Andrew Crofts pass and ran through on goal but he failed to test the Exiles number one.

Former County loanee Sid Nelson was having a quiet afternoon in the centre of the Swindon defence and goalkeeper Lawrence Vigouroux was not called into action until the 43rd minute when he kept out Bakinson’s low drive.

There was still time for the visitors to lose Crofts to injury before the break, with Scot Bennett called into action to replace the skipper, and for the hosts to go close twice more through Adebayo and Taylor.

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But Flynn’s men held on and they looked a different side in the second half.

With some strong words no doubt ringing in their ears and the wind at their backs they set about the Robins straight away and they were level within two minutes of the restart.

Bakinson’s cross was met by the head of Amond and the striker’s effort had too much power for Vigouroux, who could only help the ball into the roof of the net.

Semenyo's direct running was causing all sorts of problems for the home defence and forced some rash challenges on the edge of the box.

Dan Butler blasted a free-kick way over the top and Bakinson also wasted a half chance but there was still danger at the other end as Woolery’s effort trickled just wide of Day’s far post.

Joss Labadie replaced the injured Mark O’Brien for the final 23 minutes as County looked for the goal to complete the turnaround.

Mickey Demetriou went close with a header and Sheehan saw a free-kick deflected into the side netting but Day had to be alert to deny Iandolo again in an end-to-end final quarter.

But the winner came at the other end as Bennett, who had defended so well up to that point, misjudged a high ball and Woolery sprinted onto Doughty's pass before rounding Day and finding the net from a tight angle. 

County: Day; Franks, O’Brien (Labadie, 67), Demetriou; Pipe (Semenyo, 26), Crofts (Bennett, 44), Bakinson, Butler; Sheehan; Amond, Matt

Subs not used: Townsend, Pring, Forbes, Harris

Booked: Demetriou, Semenyo, O'Brien

Referee: Dean Whitestone

Attendance: 6,204

Argus star man: Semenyo