Aberystwyth 2-4 Newtown: Rushton nets hat-trick as Robins on form

A hat-trick by Nick Rushton stopped Aberystwyth from completing a double in the Mid Wales derby on a windy night at Park Avenue.

Sam Phillips took advantage of an error by Dave Jones to pull one back for Aber early in the second half, whilst Rhys Davies added another in the dying minutes, but they were nothing more than consolation goals.

The conditions had a massive impact on the game, with a swirling wind causing chaos for any long balls, and a heavy shower of rain in the first half didn’t help matters.

It took just three minutes for the away side to open the scoring. Alex Darlington, playing as a defensive midfielder, gave the ball away cheaply in the middle of the field, allowing James Davies to break clear with acres of space ahead of him. The winger squared to Rushton who made no mistake to score his sixth league goal of the season.

Aberystwyth came close to equalising just a minute after falling behind. A long throw by Jack Thorn was headed clear by Newtown, falling straight to Mathew Jones on the edge of the box, who saw his powerful strike bounce back off the post after taking a deflection.

The home side had another opportunity on the quarter-hour mark. John Owen chipped the ball forward to Jonathan Evans, who saw his one-on-one effort well saved by Dave Jones.

Aber were made to rue their miss, after Rushton scored his second to double Newtown’s lead just seconds later. James Davies and Aaron Williams played an aerial one-two, before the latter played the ball forward to Rushton who looped the ball over Zabret on the half-volley.

The away side were firmly in the ascendancy after the second goal, and captain Craig Williams came close to adding a third, after a powerful strike from the edge of the box flew straight into Zabret’s hands. Mwandwe also came close, breaking away from an Aber long throw and going all the way into the box, only to see his strike hit the side netting.

Aber were dealt another blow after half an hour after right-back Jack Rimmer, one of the best players of the game up to that point, was forced off with a leg injury.

With just seconds left of the first half, a late intervention by Alex Darlington stopped Newtown from scoring a sure-fire third. James Davies again broke clear after Jenkins’ attempted clearance was accidentally blocked by his own player in Mathew Jones, but Darlington got back to intercept Davies’ pass to Mwandwe.

Just five minutes into the second half, Aberystwyth reduced the deficit. Dave Jones came out of his box to try collecting a long ball, but all he could do was play the ball straight to Sam Phillips who slotted the ball into an open goal. Jones could possibly count himself lucky that the goal was awarded, as otherwise he could well have seen himself sent off for a hand ball.

However, Newtown restored their two-goal lead fifteen minutes later. Zabret did well to parry shots by Aaron Williams and James Davies, but there was nothing he could do to stop Rushton from completing his hat-trick with the easiest of his three goals.

James Davies then added a fourth for Newtown with less than 15 minutes left. A long throw by Callum Roberts went all the way to Davies at the far post, who fired his shot past Zabret.

Substitute Rhys Davies earned a consolation goal for his side in the final minutes. The left-back rose higher than any defender to meet Mathew Jones’ corner, sending a powerful header into the goal.

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Player of the match

Nick Rushton – Newtown

Whilst the likes of Lifumpa Mwandwe and Aaron Williams have taken the headlines for Newtown with their performances this season, Rushton has been a key part of Newtown’s deadly strike force. The clinical forward has now taken his tally in the league this season to eight goals.

Line-ups

Aberystwyth: (4-3-3) Gregor Zabret; Jack Rimmer (Owen Orford 35′), Lee Jenkins, Louis Bradford, Matthew Jones; Jamie Veale, Alex Darlington (Rhys Davies 53′), Jack Thorn (C); Jonathan Evans (Raul Correia 58′), John Owen, Sam Phillips

Unused substitutes: Alex Pennock, Richie Ricketts, Cameron Allen, Jamie Jones

Goal: Sam Phillips 51, Rhys Davies 89′

Yellow cards: Jamie Veale 22, Lee Jenkins 38′

Newtown: (4-2-3-1) Dave Jones; Craig Williams (C) (Ryan Edwards 81′), Kieran Mills-Evans, Brett Taylor, Callum Roberts; Jake Walker, George Hughes; Lifumpa Mwandwe (Henry Cowans 81′), Nick Rushton (Jordan Evans 81′), James Davies; Aaron Williams

Unused substitutes: Max Williams, James Rowland, Ben Guest, Naim Arsan

Goals: Nick Rushton 4, 18, 68, James Davies 76′