Evergreen Ellison sums up Newport County’s never say die attitude

41-year-old Kevin Ellison scored a 96th-minute winner for Newport County on Saturday afternoon against Port Vale to move the Exiles three points clear at the top of League Two.

It was the fourth time this season that Mike Flynn’s side have scored a winning goal in the 85th minute or later, a remarkable record considering they are only 12 games into their league campaign.

But since Flynn was appointed manager in March 2017, remarkable achievements have become the norm for a club that spent so long in the wilderness.

Reformed in 1989 after being declared bankrupt in the same year, Newport reached League Two in 2013 following years of having to play on borrowed pitches as they climbed the non-league pyramid.

By the spring of 2017, they looked to be heading back to the National League as a disastrous run of form under controversial manager Graham Westley saw them 11 points adrift at the bottom of the fourth tier.

Up stepped Flynn.

The Newport-born caretaker manager had played over 100 times for the Exiles across four spells at his hometown club, and went from being a peripheral member of Westley’s backroom staff to overseeing a run of eight wins in the last 12 games of the season to ensure survival thanks to a last-gasp winner against Notts County on the final day of the season.

Flynn was then appointed manager on a permanent basis and oversaw cup upsets against the likes of Leeds, Middlesbrough and Leicester, before leading his side to the League Two play-off final in 2019.

There was last-minute heartbreak at Wembley, as Newport lost out to Tranmere in the dying moments of extra-time and a difficult campaign followed – County finished 14th on points per game in 2019/20.

A change of style over the summer has worked a treat.

Much of Flynn’s early success at the club was built upon a direct style of play and making the most of set-pieces, but this season the manager has introduced a possession-based approach that has resulted in Newport playing some of the best football in the EFL.

Young loanees Brandon Cooper and Scott Twine have both been exceptional so far for County, but Flynn has still relied on the old guard to guide them.

Experienced midfielder Matty Dolan has excelled playing at the heart of a back three, Welsh playmaker Josh Sheehan recently made his international debut following his impressive start to the season, and the age-less Ellison showed at the weekend that he can still make an impact in League Two after being released by Morecambe in June.

Many expected EFL icon Ellison to have played his last game in the football league after leaving the Shrimpers, but Flynn saw what he could bring to his dressing room in terms of both ability and character.

This was evident in his post-match interview on Saturday when asked if he was pleased with the veteran’s contribution after coming on as a late substitute:

“I don’t know if it’s pleasing for me because he won’t shut up about it now.

“As soon as he scored he said ‘imagine how many I’d score if you give me six minutes’.

“He’s a character, a fantastic professional, that’s why he is still playing at the age he is and he’s a fantastic human being because he’s had some tough times, he’s come through and he’s always there to help others.”

Evidence of the new playing style was on show at Rodney Parade against Port Vale also, as Newport finished the game with over 60 percent possession and had 26 shots on goal.

However, Ellison’s winner came from a last-minute corner, showing Flynn’s side have still retained facets of their play that made them successful in the past.

If they can continue to combine the best of both worlds, it would be no surprise to see Newport more than make up for their near miss in 2019.