Ranked as the lowest seed heading into the end of season Europa League Play-Offs, Newtown have fired another warning shot to their play-off rivals with a ruthless victory over Aberystwyth.
The Mid-Wales side have wound their Dafabet Welsh Premier League campaign in style scoring a remarkable 13-goals in their final two games, the effect of which sees Chris Hughes’ side brimming with confidence prior to the season finale.
Last weekend it was Airbus UK who were the hapless recipients of a 7-1 drubbing, regional rivals Aberystwyth – no longer burdened by the threat of relegation – fared little better this time around.
Not even the decision to drop top-scorer and play-off absentee Jason Oswell to the bench deterred in-form Newtown from inflicting a 6-1 defeat onto Aberystwyth.
Nick Rushton graciously headed home a Luke Boundford cross, unmarked, on 19 minutes triggering a seven-minute period which would effectively determine the game.
Four minutes later, Robins left-back Steffan Edwards made the most of a rare upfield sortie, latching on to Neil Mitchell’s threaded pass to coolly finish.
A third goal quickly followed, when two minutes later an error from visiting defender Ryan Wollacott allowed Ryan Kershaw to pounce, firing his shot under goalkeeper Chris Mullock – this against an Aberystwyth team which had failed to concede in its three previous games.
An initial strong response from Aberystwyth after the break saw Newtown stopper Dave Jones save well from Luke Borrelli and Sam Rodon head the crossbar, but after Mullock was beaten by a Jamie Price effort which came back off the woodwork, the ever-efficient Luke Boundford was on hand to add to the Robins’ lead.
For the second week in a row Newtown produced a hat-trick hero.
A close range finish with Mullock already beaten and header in the closing stages ensured Nick Rushton of the matchday ball before Aberystwyth rookie Sion Ewart claimed a late consolation.
You suspect will Newtown will now be buoyant heading into their play-off semi-final against top-seeds Bangor City in a fortnight’s time.
“When you play one-off games, anything can happen in that game that’s what’s great about it,” manager Chris Hughes told Newtown.TV post-match.
“Today was a fantastic performance, really, really good movement and passing; everything that we’re about was great and I’m really pleased about creating chances and being clinical.
“We can take the momentum from this and confidence which is seeping through the players,” Hughes added. “Everyone wants the ball, everyone is really confident and whatever happens in two weeks, it’s important to remember where the group have come from – second bottom in the league, we’ve taken 26 points out of 30 and that’s a fantastic effort form everyone and when I say everyone I mean staff as well as players.
“We took a lot of flak in November -December for our form, and rightly so as well, but we knew we weren’t that far away, we lost nine games by the odd goal and it comes down to taking chances, we’ve down that in the 10 games and it’s really pleasing and like I say, it was a joy to watch today and I thought we were fantastic.”
Nomads Finish Runners-Up; Old Gold Home Take Advantage
A goalless draw in Cardiff between the Met and Connah’s Quay ensured the Nomads of a second-place finish ahead of Bala Town.
Heading into the final round separated only by goal difference, Connah’s Quay were required to match Bala’s result to finish as runners-up, but the stalemate at the Cyncoed Campus proved irrelevant when the Lakesiders were on the receiving end of an incredible 6-4 defeat to The New Saints.
The goals flowed at Maes Tegid as Saints led 2-1 after only 14 minutes and the two sides were inseparable come the end of the first-half with three-goals apiece.
The free-scoring rally would continue after the break with Scott Quigley marking his return to the Saints starting line-up with a hat-trick. The goals continued up until the 83rd minute when Bala full-back David Thompson netted the last of the ten goals between the two sides.
Carmarthen Town will have home advantage in their play-off clash with Cardiff Met after an encouraging 2-0 win at Bangor City.
Liam Thomas netted early in each half to secure home advantage with the Old Gold finishing the season in a very respectable fifth-place.
Dafabet Welsh Premier League results
Bala Town 4-6 TNS, Bangor City 0-2 Carmarthen, Cardiff Met 0-0 Connah’s Quay, Cefn Druids 3-1 Airbus UK, Newtown 6-1 Aberystwyth, Rhyl 1-1 Llandudno
Europa League Play-Offs (dates tbc)
Bangor City v Newtown
Carmarthen Town v Cardiff Met
Featured image courtesy of Dave Evans/Newtown AFC/Welsh Premier League
