Penybont 0 Newtown 2

NEWTOWN produced a professional performance to push past the challenge of Penybont and steal a march in the race for European qualification.

The Robins went into the game on the back of victory over Flint Town United four days earlier which kept them in contention for second place finish at the expense of Penybont who suffered a 5-0 defeat at fellow European contenders Bala Town.

With Bala Town facing runaway champions TNS tonight, the match in Bridgend came to represent a chance for both sides to steal a march in the race for second place.

Penybont threatened early on with Nathan Wood drilling wide from the edge of the area following Kai Owen's right wing free-kick after seven minutes.

However it was the Robins who should have led five minutes later with Fumpa Mwandwe steering Nick Rushton's left wing cross onto the post as Penybont breathed a huge sigh of relief.

Brett Taylor earned himself a caution for an over zealous challenge on Lewis Clutton midway through the half with Naim Arsan and the home side's Lewis Harling following him into the book following a brief altercation.

The first-half became increasingly dictated by the visitors but their best efforts of stretching the home sie with the pace of Mwandwe were frustrated.

Kai Whitmore gave the Robins a reminder of his threat after 34 minutes with a storming 30 yard run which only ended with a foul from George Hughes.

Roused into action, the hosts almost opened the scoring moments later with Owen's left wing cross deceiving all in the area despite the looming presence of Sam Snaith on the far post.

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Newtown broke the deadlock with five minutes remaining of a tightly contested first-half with captain Craig Williams curling a glorious free-kick beyond goalkeeper Ashley Morris from the edge of the area.

Penybont should have been back on terms just before the break with Owen's left wing cross met by Snaith whose weakly met shot was comfortably gathered by goalkeeper Dave Jones.

The opening of the second-half remained just as tight with Dan Jefferies drilling wide in the first real opening after 55 minutes.

Five minutes later and the Robins doubled their lead with Naim Arsan breaking down the left wing before floating a weighted throughball for Mwandwe who skilfully cut inside onto his left foot to fire home from 12 yards.

Whitmore sent Snaith scampering through with a long ball on 64 minutes but Jones was on his heels to meet the threat with the home side eventually spurning the opening as Ryan Reynolds fired wide from the edge of the area.

Nathan Wood brought Jones into action from a tight angle before Owen's cross from the edge of the area picked out an unmarked Keane Watts who steered his header over from close range as Penybont enjoyed their best spell of the game.

Penybont continued to dominate possession but Newtown remained steadfast in defence as the match entered its final stages.

Jones was called upon to produce a cat like save to claw away Owen's quickly taken free-kick from the left which was sneaking in at the front post before the Newtown No1 recovered to produce the save of the match.

Penybont toiled with no reward as the Robins soaked up the pressure to celebrate a potentially vital three points in their quest for European qualification.

Penybont: Morris, Owen, Jefferies, Harling, Wood, Whitmore (Tweedy 83), Snaith, Borge, Clutton (Georgievsky 45), Reynolds, Griffiths (Watts 57). Subs: Williams, Walsh, Ahmun, Rogers

Newtown: Jones, Taylor, Sears, Sutton, Mwandwe (Ismail 90), Rushton, A Williams, C Williams, Hughes, Walker, Arsan (Davies 82). Subs: M Williams, Mills-Evans, Downes, Hesden, , Guest.