Bala Town 3

Newtown 2

CRAIG Williams saw red before Newtown tasted injury-time heartache on a wet and wild Friday night at Bala Town.

Despite heavy rain and gale force winds battering the region both sides began the match with sustained spells of possession.

The hosts threatened with Williams clearing Steve Tames’ goalbound header but from the resulting corner Chris Venables headed his side into a 15th minute lead.

Venables almost doubled his tally with a curling effort before the break only for goalkeeper Dave Jones to produce a superb save.

Newtown struggled to test home goalkeeper Ashley Morris with Kieran Mills-Evans heading wide in their best openings before Callum Roberts’ free-kick went wide.

The Robins started the second-half brightly and led when Neil Mitchell was brought down in the area by Stuart Jones with Steve Leslie converting the resulting penalty.

Newtown rallied with Mitchell’s long range effort tipped over by Morris before Nick Rushton’s shot was deflected wide.

However the Mid Wales side were dealt a major blow on the hour with Williams earning a second caution and dismissal for a mistimed challenge on Sean Smith.

Rushton’s lofted effort forced Morris into action before the Lakesiders restored their advantage with 20 minutes remaining with Venables completing his brace from the penalty spot after Nathan Burke was impeded.

Bala pressed to kill the game with Jones forced into a one on save with Burke before Newtown snatched an equaliser with just six minutes remaining.

Ethan Jones released Roberts on the left to cross for Luke Boundford to head home on the far post.

However disaster struck deep into stoppage time when Henry Jones weaved a route through the Newtown defence to fire a shot across the face of goal and off Joe Kenton into the empty net.

NEWTOWN: D Jones, Roberts, Bailey, Mills-Evans, Denny, Mitchell (E Jones), Rushton (Goodwin), Leslie (Boundford), Kenton, Williams, Fletcher. Subs: Phillips, Perry.

Att - 170