Two quick-fire goals in the space of four minutes from Ryan Jackson and Mikael Mandron helped Colchester United claim an excellent victory at in-form Newport County.

Jackson and Mandron struck in quick succession in the final quarter of the match at Rodney Parade to secure John McGreal’s side back-to-back away wins in League Two and make it a miserable birthday for Exiles boss Michael Flynn, despite substitute Shawn McCoulsky’s late consolation.

It was a hugely pleasing performance and result for the U’s in front of their 136 travelling fans, particularly given the injury problems they suffered both before and during the match.

U’s head coach McGreal made three changes to his starting line-up for their trip to Newport, as his team lined up in a 3-5-2 formation.

Ryan Inniss and Kane Vincent-Young both shrugged off hamstring injuries to start after missing the defeat against Carlisle United last weekend, while Brandon Comley also earned a recall.

Kyel Reid, who was on the bench, Cole Kpekawa and Drey Wright all dropped out of the starting line-up.

Buoyed by their recent good form, Newport started well and Colchester almost found themselves behind in only the second minute.

Former Ipswich Town attacker Frank Nouble did brilliantly to skip his way past U’s defenders Tom Eastman and Ryan Jackson and pick him out Padraig Amond, who wastefully blasted over from 14 yards.

But the home side were forced to make a 15th minute change when their skipper Joss Labadie went off injured and was replaced by Sean Rigg, as the Exiles were forced to switch things around in midfield.

David Pipe’s far-post header deflected wide for a corner as Newport made most of the running in the opening quarter, with little seen of the U’s as an attacking force.

Colchester finally registered a meaningful effort on goal after 33 minutes when Brandon Hanlan raced clear of the Newport defence but could only drill the ball into the side netting, from a tight angle.

The U’s were forced into a change soon after, with Vincent-Young forced off with what appeared to be a recurrence of a hamstring injury and Lewis Kinsella replacing him, at left wing-back.

Rigg’s long-range effort flew well wide for Newport late in the half, as the sides went in level after a pretty forgettable opening 45 minutes.

Colchester were forced to make another change at the break, with Tom Lapslie on for Doug Loft.

And they went close ten minutes into the second half when Mikael Mandron nodded Ryan Jackson’s deep cross wide, at the far post.

But Colchester’s goal lived a charmed life on the hour mark when Newport came close to breaking the deadlock three times in quick succession.

U’s goalkeeper Sam Walker was forced into his first meaningful save of the match when he palmed away a shot from Amond, who had raced clear of the Colchester defence following David Pipe’s intricate through ball.

Scot Bennett’s effort then struck a post for the Exiles seconds later following a corner and from another set piece, Comley was on hand to clear off the line as the U’s came worryingly close to conceding.

Nouble fired just over the bar minutes later with a rasping 20-yard effort after teasing the Colchester defence but the U’s did have their chances, with Mandron slicing wide first time at the far post following Lapslie’s ball into the area.

And with 16 minutes remaining, the breakthrough finally came.

After Hanlan and Mandron had combined well in the final third, the latter drilled the ball across the face of the area and Jackson was on hand to plant an excellent low strike past Day.

Hanlan was denied by Day soon after following Mandron’s through ball and Lapslie’s long-range effort sailed inches wide, before Colchester doubled their lead when Mandron glanced home beautifully from Murray’s ball into a crowded area.

Newport forced a succession of corners as the clock ticked down and McCoulsky nodded in from Dan Butler’s ball into the area with four minutes remaining, to set up a barnstorming finish.

But Mandron’s long-range effort was pushed over by Day in stoppage-time, as Colchester claimed a notable away win.

COLCHESTER UNITED (3-5-2): Walker, Eastman, Kent, Inniss, Jackson, Loft (sub Lapslie, 46), Comley, Vincent-Young (sub Kinsella, 34), Murray, Mandron, Hanlan (sub Odelusi, 84).

Substitutes (not used): Slater, Reid, Kabamba, Gilmartin.

Newport County (3-5-2): Day, Pipe (sub McCoulsky, 75), Butler, Labadie (sub Rigg, 15), White (sub Reynolds, 78), Dolan, Amond, Nouble, Tozer, Bennett, Demetriou.

Substitutes (not used): O’Brien, Owen-Evans, Quigley.

U’s man of the match: Mikael Mandron.

Referee: Darren England (South Yorkshire) – 7.

Attendance: 2,704 (136 U’s fans).

Bookings: Colchester United: Kinsella (foul, 85).

Red cards: None.

Goals: Colchester United: Jackson (72), Mandron (76). Newport County: McCoulsky (86).