Newtown 2 Flint Town United 1

AARON Williams struck twice as Newtown punished Flint Town United's indiscipline to climb to second in the table.

The Robins found themselves under pressure early on with goalkeeper Dave Jones forced into a fine save to tip over a well struck volley from Dan Roberts inside the opening five minutes.

However it was Newtown who led with their first attack of the game with Williams swivelling home a low shot from 12 yards after being teed up by Nick Rushton.

Flint came to dominate possession with Newtown forced to defend and soak up the pressure.

On 27 minutes the home side were given a let off when Mark Cadwallader's shot was blocked on the line by Ryan Sears before Ben Maher crashed the loose ball onto the bar as the Robins survived a great scare.

Just seconds later Maher and goalkeeper Jon Rushton were involved in a defensive mix-up which Fumpa Mwandwe failed to capitalise.

Newtown continued to threaten in their rare attacks with Aaron Williams denied by Rushton after latching onto a throughball from Henry Cowans.

The Robins doubled their lead largely against the run of play on the stroke of half-time when Zeli Ismael's left wing free-kick was about to be met by Shane Sutton only to be pulled back by Ben Nash.

Williams calmly sent Rushton the wrong way from the resulting penalty as Newtown doubled their lead before the break.

The start of the second-half saw both sides begin at a frantic pace with Ismael denied by a fine save from Ruhston in the opening exchanges before the Deesiders reduced the arrears with Cadwallader heading home from close range.

However Flint were to prove their own worst enemies and just moments later a moment of absolute madness from Alex Jones saw him aim a headbutt at George Hughes and leave referee Tom Owen with no choice to order his dismissal.

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The red card effectively ended hopes of Flint getting back in the game with Newtown gradually getting on top and dominating possession.

Mwandwe released Rushton who forced his brother in the visiting goal into a fine save on the hour and Newtown would largely remain untroubled for the remainder of the game while frustrated in their efforts to extend their lead.

With 10 minutes remaining Mwandwe and Rushton were denied in a goalmouth scramble while Williams was denied his hat-trick by the woodwork and a few minutes later James Davies scuffed his lines from 12 yards after Rhys Hesden carved room with a left wing cross.

Manager Chris Hughes said: "We started off well but after the Flint goal early in the second-half it was game on. But the sending off allowed us to gain a little bit of control again.

"We created really good opportunities but we didn't take them, and it's a really sloppy goal we've conceded which allowed them back into the game.

"At this stage of the season it's results over performance, and we got three points. It was really important to follow on from the TNS win otherwise that win last week doesn't mean a great deal."

Newtown: Jones, Sears, Sutton, Mwandwe (Hesden 87), Rushton, A Williams, Cowans (Taylor 65), C Williams, Ismail, Hughes, Walker. Subs: M Williams, Downs, Jones, Guest

Flint: Rushton, Phillips, Hart, Maher, Nash, Jones, Cadwallader, Bratley, Roberts, Nugent (Hughes 65), Higgins (Duffy 15). Subs: Woods, Harrison, Ellis, Williams, Davis