NEWPORT County AFC manager Michael Flynn again bemoaned his side’s poor finishing after a 5-4 penalty shootout win over Brighton & Hove Albion under-21s following a 0-0 draw at The Amex Stadium.

Tristan Abrahams, Ryan Haynes, Jamille Matt, Taylor Maloney and George Nurse all scored from the spot to send County through to the third round of the Leasing.com Trophy.

But the Exiles missed a host of chances to win the tie in normal time and Flynn was frustrated that they had to rely on a shootout to progress.

“It’s gone to penalties because we couldn’t finish,” said the manager.

“I thought it was a good footballing match. I thought Brighton’s young players did very well and, again, our lack of finishing could have cost us the game.

“We’re just very poor at finishing at the moment.

“I’m not going to single any players out because it was the same on Friday and last Saturday.

“We do a lot of finishing drills [in training] but we are very poor at finishing,” added Flynn.

“It’s easy to say it’s a lack of confidence. It’s a lack of bright thinking, it’s a lack of urgency, it’s waiting for the perfect opportunity to shoot, trying to get it onto your favourite foot to shoot. Or, in some cases, getting it on their weaker foot – which bemuses me.

“It’s one of those things that we’ll continue to work on.

“And the players need to work on it because the longer it goes on…Trust me, I’m looking for goalscorers.”

Flynn was pleased with the performances of 17-year-olds Dom Jefferies in midfield and Joe Woodiwiss in central defence.

“I thought Dom Jefferies was excellent in the second half,” he said. “He was absolutely outstanding.

“I can’t remember him giving the ball away, he broke play up, he kept it simple and he looked very good.

“And Joe Woodiwiss looked very accomplished again and he did very well, albeit against players their own age.

“But it’s good because Brighton are a category one academy and they invest a lot of money into that.”

Woodiwiss was partnered by midfielder Matty Dolan in the heart of the back four.

“I thought Matty was excellent,” said Flynn. “He won headers, he covered. I had to ask him why he can’t win those headers in midfield! He looked very good.

“But I’m not getting carried away – we played against Brighton’s kids.”

Read more: Brighton & Hove Albion 0 Newport County 0 - match report