Dafabet Welsh

Premier League

Aberystwyth Town 0

Newtown 4

JASON Oswell starred with a hat-trick as Newtown maintained their 2017 unbeaten run while deepening Aberystwyth Town’s growing relegation fears.

Oswell capped his treble with a stunning 40 yard lob over goalkeeper Chris Mullock before the Seasiders misery was compounded with a straight red card for captain Luke Sherbon with 20 minutes remaining ensuring the hosts would be without one of its key players for the season climax.

Victory strengthened Newtown’s hopes of ending top of the play-off conference while relegation clouds are closing in on fast on the lowly Seasiders.

Aberystwyth started brightly with Sherbon dispossessing Craig Williams to set up Geoff Kellaway who forced Robins goalkeeper Jack Perry into action.

However it was a rare scare for the Robins who soon came to dominate with Williams and Nick Rushton crossing for Oswell to fire over in the early exchanges.

Oswell steered a header from Jamie Price’s cross straight at Mullock as the Seasiders continued to live on their luck.

However just five minutes before the break the Seasiders ran out of luck when Oswell headed home Williams’ right wing cross after being released by Tom Goodwin.

Aberystwyth looked to get back in the game at the start of the second-half and were almost level when Jamie Crowther’s header was blocked in a packed goalmouth before Luke Borrelli rifled against the post.

However Newtown survived to double their lead on 54 minutes with a long throw by Luke Boundford flicked on by Shane Sutton for Rushton to steer home.

Two minutes later and Newtown fans were in pinching themselves when Oswell’s quickly taken 40 yard free-kick dipped over a stranded Mullock.

The Seasiders lost their discipline with an x-rated challenge from Sherbon on Boundford deservedly yielding a red card, leaving his team-mates to face a rampant Newtown side without him.

Newtown were now pulling the Seasiders apart at will with their quick passing game leaving the 10 man Seasiders chasing shadows and indebted to Mullock in keeping the score respectable with saves to deny Goodwin and Oswell while also superbly saving a dipping Alex Fletcher shot.

Mullock had no chance as Newtown added a deserved fourth late on with Oswell breaching the hosts defensive lines to curl home and complete his hat-trick.

Aberystwyth could have reduced the arrears in injury-time only for on-loan defender Phil Baker to be denied by Perry who maintained his own impressive run of form with a confident display.

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

ATT – 299