Newport County 1 Carlisle United 0: Newport sub George Nurse scored with the last kick to consign Carlisle United to a cruel 1-0 defeat at Rodney Parade.

Nurse sent an unstoppable 25-yard shot past Adam Collin in the 96th minute.

The Blues had no time to respond and were left with nothing to show from what had, until then, been a solid afternoon's work in south Wales.

They had restricted Mike Flynn's high-flying side to very few chances and could easily have scored themselves, Jack Bridge, Hallam Hope and Jack Iredale enjoying chances.

But the dramatic finale saw Steven Pressley's side drop two places to 18th in League Two.

Bridge came closest for Carlisle in a tight first half when the midfielder, back in the side after suspension, was put through by Mike Jones' curling pass in the 39th minute.

But he shot across goal and wide for the Cumbrians.

That was the best opening in a first 45 minutes of limited chances.

Newport forced an eighth-minute opportunity when Jamille Matt laid Ryan Haynes' cross into Padraig Amond's path, but the recalled frontman rifled over.

Afterwards, United defended doggedly to restrict Flynn's hosts in their 3-5-2 system.

Josh Sheehan had a shot blocked and Collin pushed a cross helped on by Amond past the post.

But Collin's goal had not been in much danger otherwise and United broke against the Exiles a few times, Mike Jones slotting wide after driving into the box and the midfielder having a later attempt blocked.

Carlisle then got on top after the break with Iredale having a shot blocked and Hope twice having attempts.

United's defenders and midfielders were winning plenty of ball and frustrating the Exiles and on 70 minutes Iredale dribbled infield for a good chance, but saw his shot blocked.

Sheehan had an attempt blocked for Newport while sub Corey Whitely fired wide.

United, who had Harry McKirdy and Ryan Loft on the bench in the closing 20 minutes, looked like they had secured a point for their efforts as Newport's closing set-pieces were safely cleared.

But one final attack saw the ball fed to Nurse, on for Matty Dolan, and he smashed home to the delight of the home supporters.

Newport: King, Haynes, Howkins, O'Brien, Bennett, McNamara (Abrahams 46), Sheehan, Dolan (Nurse 87), Willmott, Amond (Whitely 70), Matt. Not used: Townsend, Collins, Maloney, Poleon.

United: Collin, G Jones, Webster, Knight-Percival, Elliott, Iredale, M Jones, Bridge, Sagaf, Hope (Loft 80), Olomola (McKirdy 70). Not used: Gray, Carroll, Mellish, Branthwaite, Sorensen.

Ref: Antony Coggins.

Crowd: 3,681 (167 Carlisle fans)