Carlisle United 2, Newport County 1
Newport County face a tension-packed afternoon at Rodney Parade next Saturday.
They must win at home against Notts County to be certain of staying in the Football League.
Survival will be decided by that County v County clash plus Hartlepool United v title-chasing Doncaster Rovers at Victoria Park.
All League Two fixtures next weekend kick-off at 5.30pm and Newport will know their fate around two hours later.
The only certain factor is that Newport or Hartlepool will be relegated.
Both were defeated this weekend. Manager Mike Flynn and his County team lost 2-1 at Carlisle after leading, while United went down 1-0 at Cheltenham Town.
That lifted Gloucestershire team The Robins out of danger and left Pools deep in trouble.
They are two points behind Newport with one fixture left.
Carlisle fought back in a compelling encounter to climb into the play-off places, scoring twice in two second half minutes.
Defender Scot Bennett and striker Lenell John-Lewis returned to the Newport squad after recovering from injuries and both were named among the substitutes.
County made a breakthrough after 12 minutes when Alex Samuel won a free-kick to the right of the penalty area. Sean Rigg swung the ball in and Demetriou headed into the top right-hand corner for his third goal in six matches.
The visitors were still leading by that lone goal at half-time, but Carlisle were reflecting on a shot by Jamie Proctor which flew past goalkeeper Joe Day and hit the bar.
Jabo Ibehre followed up with a header which was saved by Day after 44 minutes.
Newport suffered a blow during first half injury time when Alex Samuel was forced off by an injury with Alex Williams taking over.
Manager Mike Flynn then sent on Bennett for the second half. He took over from Mark Randall and slotted in alongside Joss Labadie in midfield as Newport looked to keep things solid defensively.
Carlisle swept forward after the break and goalkeeper Day saved superbly from Jamie Proctor’s header with 49 minutes gone. Proctor also went close from the resulting corner, heading just wide.
The home team equalised after 58 minutes when Ibehre’s low shot went into the bottom corner and they went ahead on the hour when Nicky Adams fired high into the net from just outside the penalty area.
Carlisle United: Gillespie, Liddle, Raynes, Gillesphey, Grainger, Devitt, Lambe, Joyce, Adams (T Miller 90+3), Proctor (S Miller 76), Ibehre. Subs not used: Tomlinson, Bailey, O’Sullivan, Crocombe, Waring.
Newport County: Day, Pipe, Demetriou, O’Brien, Butler, Owen-Evans, Labadie, Randall (S Bennett 46), Samuel (Williams 45+4), Rigg, Bird (John-Lewis 72). Subs not used: Barnum-Bobb, Myrie-Williams, Nelson, Bittner.
Referee: David Webb
Attendance: 5,402.
