Dafabet Welsh

Premier League

Cefn Druids 1

Newtown 2

NICK Rushton fired Newtown to victory at Cefn Druids to remain on the play-off trail at the Rock on Friday night.

Both sides went into the game with confidence following their positive starts to 2017 and looked to make an early breakthrough.

Goalkeeper Jack Perry was quick to smother a Kyle Parle header from Naim Arsan’s left wing cross as Druids showed their intent.

However the Robins soon got on top with Jason Oswell forcing home goalkeeper Mike Jones into action.

Newtown led on 15 minutes with ex-Druids player Ryan Kershaw driving to the right by line before sending a dipping cross over Jones and in off the post.

Newtown should have increased their advantage only for Oswell to glance Rushton’s cross wide before Neil Mitchell’s cross was almost turned into his own net by Matthew Eckersley.

Druids handed Newtown a reminder of their threat as Adam Hesp headed Corey Roper’s cross wide though it was still the visitors who dictated the game though failing to make the most of their opportunities.

Kershaw’s powerful shot was saved by Jones before Mitchell headed wide and Kieran Mills-Evans saw a shot deflected wide.

The hosts hit the ground running after the break with both Jordan Barrow and Mike Pritchard firing wide while Hesp headed over.

Newtown weathered the storm and on 67 minutes a moment of hesitancy in the Druids defence was seized upon by Oswell to cross for Rushton to slot home.

However Cefn Druids reduced the arrears almost directly from kick-off with Roper allowed time to fire home from the edge of the area.

Newtown survived a swathe of home pressure with a Barrow shot blocked in a packed goalmouth as the hosts pressed for an equaliser.

Newtown came close to snatching a third late on with Oswell releasing Mitchell to lash narrowly wide but the Robins had already done enough to seal the points.

NEWTOWN: Perry, Williams, Sutton, Mills-Evans, Price, Mitchell, Goodwin, Fletcher, Kershaw Oswell, Rushton. Subs: Boundford, Rose, Edwards, Cadwallader, Stephens, Kenton, Evans.

ATT – 198