Carilsle United 2 Newport County 1: Carlisle kept their play-off hopes alive with a dramatic comeback victory against Newport at Brunton Park.

The Blues' promotion chances seemed to be fading further when Micky Demetriou headed the strugglers in front in the 12th minute.

But Jabo Ibehre and Nicky Adams - the latter with a superb curling effort - struck in the space of three second-half minutes for Keith Curle's side.

The fightback, and just a second win in 13 games, saw United move back into the play-off places with one game to go.

They are now sixth, a point above the chasing pack, ahead of their trip to Exeter next Saturday.

Demetriou scored against the run of play to give Newport the lead in the opening stages.

The defender got there first to Sean Rigg's inswinging free-kick and crashed a header in off the crossbar.

That came after United had dominated the opening 10 minutes, Jamie Devitt almost setting up Ibehre, Adams shooting over and further pressure testing the Exiles.

The period after Newport's goal saw Carlisle struggle to create many clear chances despite a host of crosses and set-pieces.

The dangerous Alex Samuel narrowly failed to make it two for the visitors as they counter-attacked.

United eventually came close to levelling shortly before half-time, when Jamie Proctor's curling effort came back off the underside of the crossbar.

Keeper Day then kept out an Ibehre header, while Samuel failed to finish the first half, stretchered off seconds before the break and replaced by Aaron Williams.

Exiles boss Mike Flynn made a second substitution at the break, Scot Bennett replacing Mark Randall, and United started the second half on top.

After Proctor had gone close with a header, Luke Joyce had tried his luck and Adams whistled a volley wide, the equaliser finally came on 57 minutes.

And it was Ibehre who got it, rifling low past Day after the visitors had struggled to clear one of a series of United corners.

Things then got even better for the Blues moments later, when Adams linked with Devitt before curling a superb left-footed shot out of Day's reach from outside the box.

The memorable strike was almost followed by a third, but Day was equal to Joyce's long-range effort.

Carlisle remained on the front foot, Ibehre again going close, before Newport rallied after the introduction of Lenell John-Lewis.

Demetriou fired a free-kick narrowly wide, but Carlisle soaked up their other best efforts and almost increased their lead through Reggie Lambe and sub Shaun Miller.

Adams returned to the Carlisle side at the expense of James Bailey, but there was no place in the squad for Jason Kennedy or Shaun Brisley.

Newport's defeat means their survival bid goes to the last day, with Hartlepool still two points adrift in the drop zone.

United: Gillespie, Liddle, Grainger, Raynes, Gillesphey, Joyce, Devitt, Adams (T Miller 90), Lambe, Ibehre, Proctor (S Miller 75). Subs: Crocombe, Tomlinson, Bailey, O'Sullivan, Waring.

Newport: Day, Butler, Pipe, O'Brien, Demetriou, Labadie, Randall, Samuel (Williams 45), Owen-Evans, Rigg, Bird (John-Lewis 71). Subs: Bitner, Barnum-Bobb, Myrie-Williams, Bennett, Nelson.