Kevin Ellison looks more like Ming the Merciless than Roy of the Rovers, but appearances can be deceptive. Not even the old Roy himself could have written a script like the one currently being played out by the Newport County striker. Ellison compared himself to the dark character of the Harry Potter films, Lord Voldemort, when he signed for the club.

Michael Flynn was proud of his rain-lashed Newport County heroes and claimed their Wembley shot at promotion is just reward for a year of playing by the rules and keeping their risk-taking to events on the field. Goals from substitutes Kevin Ellison, Joss Labadie and Nicky Maynard might not have been enough to win a thrilling League Two play-off semi-final second leg – they lost 4-3 in a dramatic clash at Forest Green Rovers – but they were sufficient to take the Exiles through to the final against Morecambe, with an epic 5-4 aggregate victory. Flynn said: “I am very proud. It has been a very tough year both on and off the pitch.

Contracts and livelihoods, as well as a trip to Wembley, will be on the line for the Newport County players when they line-up for the second leg of their League Two play-off semi-final at Forest Green Rovers tonight. With all bar a handful of the squad out of contract at the end of this month, the Exiles manager Michael Flynn will instruct his players to go out and play for their lives at The New Lawn. “They are playing for their futures. There are players in our team who will comfortably get another club, but what level that is at is down to them,” said Flynn.

Michael Flynn admitted there was anger and frustration coursing through his veins – as well as a good deal of pride – after Newport County took control of their promotion play-off semi-final. Lewis Collins won the battle of the brothers as a decisive and determined County put themselves into a commanding position with a 2-0 victory over Forest Green Rovers in the first leg of their League Two play-off tie. Collins made a composed finish to put Newport 2-0 ahead in the second-half, just seconds after elder brother Aaron had missed a major opportunity to equalise for Forest Green.

Padraig Amond always wants to score whenever he steps onto a football pitch, but his lust for goals will carry a special intensity tonight. Not only is the Newport County striker aiming to put his team on the road to Wembley in the first leg of their League Two play-off semi-final at home to Forest Green Rovers, but he will be performing in front of his son for the first time. County will welcome back 900 fans to Rodney Parade for the first time this evening but, Amond will only be thinking about one of them.

Gavin Foxall has been a bit of a lone figure at Newport County’s 56 games to date this season. But all that is about to change on Tuesday night at Rodney Parade. The County chairman knows that the first leg of the League Two play-off semi-finals is going to be very different to all the rest, and not just because there is a trip to Wembley at stake.

Swansea City and Newport County will be playing their home play-off matches in front of fans for the first time this season. The move has been confirmed by the Welsh Government who have given the green light for both clubs’ ties to be played in front of supporters as pilot events as part of the easing of Covid-19 restrictions. The go-ahead means both Welsh clubs will not be disadvantaged as they might have been after English clubs were given the okay to allow a limited number of fans back for their home ties.

Newport County goalkeeper Tom King believes Forest Green Rovers will badly miss former Rodney Parade hero Jamille Matt when the two clubs clash in the play-offs. County clinched their place in the League Two mini-series after a 1-1 draw at Southend at the weekend, where they were indebted to King for a penalty save that kept the scores level. It ensured the Exiles finished fifth in the final table, on the same points as sixth-placed Forest Green who they will now meet over two legs.

Mike Flynn has told his Newport County team there are no medals for those who stumble at the final hurdle. Flynn’s promotion-chasers play their final match of the season today with their League Two play-off fate very much in their own hands. The Exiles travel to face already-relegated Southend United knowing a point will seal them a place in the end-of-campaign shoot-out.

Newport County are slowly, but surely, piecing together their side for next season and midfielder-turned-defender Matty Dolan is the latest player to put pen to paper on a new contract. The 28-year-old has agreed a new two-year deal that will see him remain at Rodney Parade until the summer of 2023 and allow him to add to the 166 games he has already played for the Exiles. Currently in his fourth season after making the switch from Yeovil Town in 2017, Dolan has played a key part in the Exiles’ FA Cup runs and pushes for promotion from League Two.

Michael Flynn has told his Newport County team to collect the remaining six points that will take them into the League Two play-offs. The County manager hailed an “absolutely outstanding” first-half performance from his team after the Exiles hammered Scunthorpe United 4-0. A comfortable victory means their play-off hopes remain in their own hands with two games of the regular season left to play.

The pressure is on, but there is no panic in the ranks at Newport County according to Mickey Demetriou as the battle for the play-offs comes down to three games. Scunthorpe United arrive at Rodney Parade tonight with the home side – currently in the final play-off spot of seventh – seeking the first of three wins to end their regular campaign to ensure they can extend their season into the play-offs once again. Last weekend’s goal less draw at Exeter maintained the three point gap between them and County, but the win by Salford City moved them to within a point of seventh place and turned them into the biggest threat.