NEWPORT County AFC manager Graham Coughlan hailed a ‘brilliant advert for League Two’ after their thrilling 5-3 win against Morecambe.

The Exiles took the spoils after a madcap game at Rodney Parade in which they led 1-0 (Aaron Wildig), 2-0 (Adam Lewis) and 3-1 (Wildig) before almost going 4-3 down.

They rallied to go back in front thanks to Harry Charsley’s strike in the 78th minute and then sealed the spoils with Seb Palmer-Houlden’s breakaway goal in the sixth and final minute of added time.

Impressive Welshman Gwion Edwards scored twice for Morecambe either ide of a Chris Stokes strike, while they almost hit the front through Jordy Hiwula.

“Wow. I don’t know where to start to be honest, it was a brilliant advert for League Two football and goes to show how far both clubs have come,” said Coughlan.

“When two teams go hammer and tongs there is no need for officials, that was Morecambe pushing, pushing and pushing, chucking the kitchen sink at us because they have play-off aspirations.

“But let’s have it right, we could have scored eight, nine, ten goals tonight but we were wasteful, and that’s why it was nervy, tense and such a close affair.

“The two teams should be very proud of themselves and it was really good to watch for both sets of fans. We are just pleased we came out the other side with the three points.

“What a game of football – if it was Premier League or Championship then people would be all over it. It was one hell of a game, they don’t do my pacemaker any good but I don’t mind when we come out with a positive result.”

County are 12th in the table, two points back on the Shrimps and five back on seventh-placed AFC Wimbledon, who they visit on Saturday.

Morecambe manager Ged Brannan lamented missed opportunities after fighting back into it.

“The players are devastated,” said the boss. “I thought at times we were breath-taking on the ball but we can’t defend crosses like that. We all know.

“We can’t come away from home and create eight or nine chances and get beat like that. We started the game really well, we had good chance and they had one break and they had a tap-in.

“If we want to get to the play-offs we’ve got to shore up at the back, we’ve just got to.

“Gwion was unplayable at times, going through like a knife like butter. We got it back to 3-3 but conceded straight away.

“We had the better chances, we really did, but you can’t concede goals like that.”