The Great Escape 2016/17

[Michael Flynn's] made the impossible, possible. I didn't think it could be done. We were in contact through a few texts and obviously you send your regards and say "all the best" but I thought it was going to be a difficult one in the situation they were in - 11 points with 12 games to go - but he made it happen. I care if it's League Two, it is a remarkable achievement and he made it happen. It is amazing to make up 11 points with 12 games to go. Amazing. It's unbelievable ... people will remember what he achieved.
Thierry Henry

2016-17 was, over all, a difficult season for Newport County AFC. There was a heartbreaking 'near-miss' in the Emirates FA Cup, when a penalty in extra time saw rivals Plymouth Argyle win a second round replay at Rodney Parade to secure a trip to Anfield. By that time, there had only been five wins to celebrate all season.

The season had begun with Warren Feeney at the helm, only for Graham Westley to replace him in October. By March, County were glued to the bottom of the table and had just suffered a crushing 4-0 home loss to fellow relegation strugglers Leyton Orient.

The club was staring non-league in the face.

11 points adrift, 12 games to go...

The board acted. Westley departed, and Michael Flynn was promoted from First Team Coach to First Team Manager. The next morning, Wayne Hatswell had arrived as Coach and Lennie Lawrence as consultant. A new era was in place, and they were given a simple task: "restore some pride in the shirt".

Just three days later, Flynn and his team had picked up their first win away to Crewe thanks to goals from Dan Butler and Joss Labadie.

Ryan Bird's penalty secured an away win against Morecambe just days later, and the 'Great Escape' had begun.

There were some losses along the way. A deflating 6-1 defeat at Adams Park will be remembered by all County fans. Plymouth Argyle sealed automatic promotion that day but for County supporters, eyes were on the events occuring at Brisbane Road.

Whilst County were struggling to contain a rampant Plymouth side, Leyton Orient were winning their first match since beating County at Rodney Parade with victory over Hartlepool United. That was the only game Orient won for the rest of the season.

Hartlepool kept losing. County kept winning.

County closed the gap with an incredible run of four wins from five and a 1-0 victory over Accrington Stanley saw them leapfrog Hartlepool on 22nd April. What was more remarkable about that victory was that Stanley had been on a 15-game unbeaten run before that defeat.

In the penultimate game of the season, County fans had a long way to travel to support the team against Carlisle United. The supporters who travelled witnessed a defeat to the play-off contenders. There was also an influx of County fans who travelled a slightly shorter distance to Chesterfield, as they cheered on the home side to a 1-0 victory over Hartlepool.

The two defeats meant it all came down to the final game of the season for The Exiles: a home match against Notts County.

Over 7,000 County fans flooded into Rodney Parade to roar their team over the line and witness one of the club's greatest achievements in the modern era.

Despite Hartlepool managing to upset league leaders Doncaster Rovers, County dug deep. Mickey Demetriou put Newport in front, before the high-flying visitors equalised in the second-half. For around half-an-hour, County were heading for non-league.

Then came the moment that defined the season. Mark O'Brien scored a late winner to preserve Newport's league status, and instead condemn Hartlepool to the fifth tier.

The Twelve Results

1 - Crewe Alexandra - Gresty Road - 11th March 2017
Crewe Alexandra 1-2 Newport County AFC
(D.Butler 53'; J.Labadie 89')

2 - Morecambe FC - Globe Arena - 14th March 2017
Morecame FC 0-1 Newport County AFC
(R.Bird [pen] 67')

3 - Blackpool - Rodney Parade - 18th March 2017
Newport County AFC 1-3 Blackpool
(A. Samuel 74')

4 - Luton Town - Rodney Parade - 21st March 2017
Newport County AFC 1-1 Luton Town
(S. Rigg 28')

5 - Portsmouth - Fratton Park - 25th March 2017
Portsmouth 2-1 Newport County AFC
(A. Samuel 77')

6 - Crawley Town - Rodney Parade - 1st April 2017
Newport County AFC 1-0 Crawley Town
(M. Demetriou 18')

7 - Exeter City - St James Park - 8th April 2017
Exeter City 0-1 Newport County AFC
(T. Owen-Evans 53')

8 - Yeovil Town - Rodney Parade - 14th April 2017
Newport County AFC 1-0 Yeovil Town
(M. Demetriou 57')

9 - Plymouth Argyle - Adams Park - 17th April 2017
Plymouth Argyle 6-1 Newport County AFC
(A. Williams 90+1')

10 - Accrington Stanley - Rodney Parade - 22nd April 2017
Newport County AFC 1-0 Accrington Stanley
(M. Randall 60')

11 - Carlisle United - Brunton Park - DATE
Carlisle United 2-1 Newport County AFC
(M. Demetriou 12')

12 - Notts County FC - Rodney Parade - 6th May 2017
Newport County AFC 2-1 Notts County
(M.Demetriou [pen] 32'; M. O'Brien 89')