Bala Town 1 Newtown 2
ZELI Ismail was the hero as Newtown finally broke their Maes Tegid jinx with a last minute winner at Bala Town on Good Friday.
Newtown last tasted glory at the home of the Lakesiders in 2015 with eight long years passed since Jason Oswell fired Chris Hughes' team to glory.
The Robins arrived on the back of a 5-0 thrashing at the hands of champions TNS and their only victory since the mid-season split the thrilling 3-2 win over Bala back in February.
On that occasion the Robins had been reduced to 10 men before striking twice in as many minutes to snatch a last gasp win.
OTHER NEWS:
- Powys punter £10,000 better off after winning popular pub’s jackpot prize
- Man who prompted call from McDonald’s drive thru staff to police had taken cannabis
- Planners urge Powys Council to get on with housing development
Since Hughes' men have only managed to add a solitary point to their tally and arrived at Maes Tegid in need of three points to revive their hopes of securing a place in the European play-offs.
A glorious day at Maes Tegid saw fans of both sides enjoy the spring sunshine but chances were at a premium for the opening spell.
Almost half an hour passed when Anthony Kay's 25 yard low effort warmed the palms of goalkeeper Dave Jones.
Action from Newtown's clash at Bala Town. Picture by Tom Houghton.
Nigel Aris headed wide as Newtown threatened at the other end with the ex-Watford forward picked out by Matthew Jones' fine left wing cross.
Newtown began the second-half on top with Aris and Aaron Williams linking to free Jones on the left whose cross to the far post was met by Nick
Rushton with goalkeeper Harri Lloyd making the save from eight yards.
Newtown led after 49 minutes with Aris' throughball causing chaos in the home defence as Kieran Smith deflected the ball beyond Lloyd and into the path of Rushton to slot home.
Newtown continued to threaten with Aris' backheel to Williams seeing the ex-Telford forward test Lloyd with a curling effort from the edge of the area.
Bala also had their chances with Wall's deep left wing cross turned back into the danger area by Smith with George Newell acrobatically volleying
wide.The Lakesiders were level with seven minutes remaining with Chris Venables heading Wall's left wing cross into the path of Newell to volley past goalkeeper Dave Jones from eight yards.
Glory belonged to the Robins as substitute Ismail gathered possession in his own half deep into stoppage time and broke before firing beyond Lloyd from 20 yards as Good Friday began with a bang for the travelling Newtown faithful.
Bala: Lloyd, Peate (White 89), Mendes, Venables, Smith, Kay, Burke (Wall 57), Rutherford (Newell 57), Southern, Arsan, Shannon. Subs: Clark, Davies, Puw, Ashworth.
Newtown: D Jones, Sears, Sutton (Hughes 61), Rushton (Downs 88), Robles, Aris (Ismail 77), A Williams (Gabriel 88), Cowans, M Jones, C Williams, Walker. Subs: Hyde, Torry, Bouyake, Aful.
Want to stay up to date with all the latest stories from Powys? Click here to sign up for our morning and daily email newsletters and click on the + for the ‘Morning Briefing’ and the 'Daily Catch-Up'.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here