Newtown 2

Bala Town 0

NICK Rushton marked his return to selection with both goals as Newtown sunk Bala Town at Latham Park.

Rushton returned to the line-up after becoming a father earlier in the week and starred as the Robins put a distinctly average Bala side to the sword.

Victory over the Lakesiders represented Newtown’s first home win over the perennial Europa League qualifiers in five years and maintained a 100 per cent record at Latham Park this season.

Bala began the match on top with Anthony Miley heading wide before Henry Jones failed to find the target with a free-kick.

Kieran Smith also menaced the Newtown defence early on with several misplaced passes from the home rearguard failing to be capitalised upon by the Lakesiders.

However the loss of Smith to injury on 22 minutes saw Bala lose their early impetus with the home side breaking the deadlock within minutes.

The inform Joe Kenton cleverly released Rushton to breach Bala’s offside trap and calmly slot past goalkeeper Ashley Morris to the delight of his team-mates.

Morris saved at the feet of Kenton moments later as Miley failed to clear a long clearance from Jones.

Bala continued to struggle to contend with the fleet footed Kenton for the remainder of the half.

However the Lakesiders ended the half on top with Ian Sheridan firing wide before Kieran Mills-Evans blocked a goalbound shot from Mike Hayes.

Bala started the second-half brightly with Jones forced into action by Nathan Burke.

However Newtown doubled their lead on 52 minutes with summer signing Steve Leslie winning possession and releasing Rushton to fire beyond Morris.

Bala looked to get back into the game but continued to be denied by a superbly organised defence while Jones made a second save to deny Burke.

The Robins could have increased their lead with substitute Ethan Jones capitalising on a tiring Bala defence to break and square for Neil Mitchell whose shot was blocked by Miley.

Rushton could have completed his hat-trick late on with a cheeky chip over Morris only to be denied by the woodwork but the Robins had already done enough to seal the points.

NEWTOWN: D Jones, Roberts, Denny, Bailey, Mills-Evans, Mitchell, Rushton, Leslie (Goodwin 72), Kenton (E Jones 83), Fletcher (Phillips 90), Cook. Subs: Perry, Harries, Evans

Att - 236