Newtown boosted their hopes of a Europa Conference League play-off spot with a 2-0 victory over Flint Town United.
Goals either side of half-time from Jordan Evans and Tyrone Ofori were enough to give the Robins a deserved three points in a game that saw seven players booked.
News of another Haverfordwest hammering, this time 6-1 at Cardiff Met sees the Robins just three points off the all-important seventh spot and qualification for the European Playoff.
Flint made two changes from their win at Aberystwyth. Missing was goalscorer Josh Amis, with Tom Weaver dropping to the bench. They were replaced by Ritchie Foulkes and Alex Jones.
There was just the one change for Newtown from their 5-1 demolition of Haverfordwest with Jordan Evans taking the place of Sean McAllister.
The visitors were quickest out the blocks and forced Jonathan Rushton into action in the fourth minute. Craig Williams cross from a free-kick was header behind for a corner and the Newtown skipper then found the head of Shane Sutton, whose effort looked bound for the bottom corner before Rushton got down low to save well.
Flint were then caught napping, as they expected a throw-in that never was, the defence watched as James Davies waltzed through before he was denied down low by Rushton.
Newtown began to assert their dominance in the opening quarter of an hour with chances coming thick and fast. First Jordan Evans shrugged off his man to get on the end of Williams’ forward ball, only to lift his effort over the bar. Then Lifumpu Mwandwe picked up the ball on the edge of his own box and ran through the midfield only to be crowded out in the box.
Craig Williams was next to test Rushton as Flint struggled to clear their lines but his shot from the edge of the box was right at the Flint stopper.
Although it had been all Newtown, with the game level there’s always the danger of a goal against the run of play and so it nearly when Conor Harwood turned his man to get in behind the defence. Holding the ball up well as he waited for support, he played a teasing cross that was inches from the forehead of Mark Cadwallader and would have caused Dave Jones serious problems in the away goal.
The Robins finally got the goal their dominance deserved on 41 minutes. Mwandwe had the run of the left-wing all game so far and was fouled level with the edge of the box. Flint pulled all eleven men back to crowd the six-yard box, but Williams spotted Evans wide open on the edge of the area. A low cross was met on the half volley and buried into the bottom corner.
The first half ended with Foulkes and Alex Jones seeing yellow in quick succession and the home side trailed by a single goal at the break.
Half time saw Neil Gibson withdraw Harwood and replace him with Jordan Buckley, a move that instantly transformed his side’s performance. Flint were content in the first half to lump the ball up toward Cadwallader but the Newtown defence stood solid on every occasion to snuff it out. Now Buckley was the target man with balls played to his feet and his strength caused the Robins backline real issues.
However, Newtown doubled their lead six minutes into the second period. Mwandwe again won a free kick in an identical position to the one that lead to the opening goal. Again, Flint defended in numbers and Jordan Evans had the freedom of the box. This time, Craig Williams lifted a high ball into the six-yard box, which was headed up into the area. After a short game of head tennis, Tyrone Ofori found the ball dropping to him with his back to goal. The striker swiveled and rifled a half volley into the net.
Flint grew into the game, playing some attractive football with Buckley as the focal point of their attacking moves but failed to create anything clear cut until the final ten minutes when Sam Hart’s cross was headed over from close range by substitute Evan Gumbs.
It should have been three for Newtown minutes later when replacement Nick Rushton put Mwandwe clear on goal but Jonathan Rushton produced a brilliant save to keep the margin down.
The best chance of the game for the home side fell to Thomas Weir very late on. Excellent work down the left-hand side from Buckley resulted in a cross to the near post that Weir narrowly put wide of the gaping goal.
It wasn’t to be for the home side as the final whistle saw Newtown take a valuable three points.
Flint Town United: John Rushton, Sam Hart, Eddie Clarke (Tom Weir, 56), Ben Nash, Kai Edwards (Ellis Gumbs, 75), Richie Foulkes (C), Mark Cadwallader (Ross Weaver, 56), Alex Jones, Callum Bratley, Connor Harwood (Jordan Buckley, 46), Ben Maher
Yellow Cards: Alex Jones 45, Richie Foulkes 45, Kai Edwards 56’
Newtown: Dave Jones, Kieran Mills-Evans, Jordan Evans (Nick Rushton, 75), James Davies, Craig Williams (C), Tyrone Ofori (Jamie Breese, 75), George Hughes, Shane Sutton, Alex Fletcher, Lifumpa Mwandwe (Jake Phillips, 89), Callum Roberts.
Yellow Cards: George Hughes 55, Ryan Williams 76, Kieran Mills-Evans 84, Callum Roberts 90’
Goals: Jordan Evans 42, Tyrone Ofori 51’
(Featured Image: H18-Pdw Photography)
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