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Newport's final day drama 'an emotional rollercoaster'
TL;DR
Newport County secured their League Two status with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Barrow on the final day of the season. Former captain Mark O'Brien expressed his emotional relief after the team's comeback from a half-time deficit.
Key points
- Newport County won 2-1 against Barrow.
- Mark O'Brien had tears of joy after the match.
- Newport avoided relegation for the second time in nine years.
Newport CountyBarrowMark O'BrienTom Davies
Former Newport County captain and club ambassador Mark O'Brien says he had "tears in my eyes" as the Exiles secured their League Two status on the final day of the season against Barrow.
O'Brien - whose goal against Notts County kept Newport in the Football League in 2017 - was on the sideline in Barrow, as County came from a goal down to win 2-1 at SO Legal Stadium.
Goals from Tom Davies and Bobby Kamwa turned the game on its head, after goalkeeper Jordan Wright had saved a penalty to prevent Barrow going two goals ahead.
Trailing 1-0 at half-time, Newport were staring relegation to the National League in the face, but for the second time in nine years they were saved by late drama.
"It was an emotional roller-coaster," O'Brien told BBC Radio Wales. "You hear the chatter around you of the other results coming in.
"It took me back to 2017, you sit there and think 'it can't end like this'.
"At some points I was looking at fans and they had tears in their eyes.
"When the players popped up with the goals they did, tears came to my eyes. It was a goosebump moment, the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.
"When you're there experiencing it, it's like no other feeling. It's the reason why we love football, for moments like this."
Newport were four points adrift of safety back in November, as they made the decision to bring in Christian Fuchs as the new head coach.
The former Leicester City defender and Premier League winner has written his first chapter in Newport folklore, and O'Brien says he hopes this latest 'great escape' will be the start of a new direction for the club.
"When you face adversity and power through it, the next way is up," said O'Brien.
"The players have that huge feeling now of what this club means to the city. You'd hope that now it starts the next chapter for Newport.
"The fans have been nothing but amazing all season, this is the magic of Newport and what has kept me around for so long.
"You could make a movie of Newport time and time again."
Q&A
How did Newport County secure their League Two status?
Newport County secured their League Two status by coming from behind to win 2-1 against Barrow on the final day of the season.
What role did Mark O'Brien play in Newport County's history?
Mark O'Brien, a former captain and club ambassador, scored a crucial goal in 2017 that helped Newport avoid relegation, and he expressed deep emotion during the recent match.
What were the key moments in Newport's final match against Barrow?
Key moments included a penalty save by goalkeeper Jordan Wright and goals from Tom Davies and Bobby Kamwa that turned the match around after Newport trailed 1-0 at half-time.
