Cardiff Metropolitan 2 Newtown 1

NEWTOWN were left to rue a hatful of missed chances in a disappointing opening night defeat at Cardiff Metropolitan.

Having made the 103 mile trek on a Friday evening the Mid Wales side had barely got off the bus when Neil Mitchell was clattered in the area by Eliot Evans only for Nick Rushton’s powder puff penalty to be saved by goalkeeper Alex Lang.

The Robins were punished moments later with Matt Neale releasing Evans to slot past goalkeeper Dave Jones inside the opening 10 minutes.

Despite the set-back the visitors continued to take the game to Archers with Rushton once again in the thick of the action with two spurned efforts.

Once again Newtown were punished with Dylan Rees breaking down the left wing to cross for Dan Spencer to slot home on the far post and leave the Robins with a mountain to climb.

Newtown could have reduced the arrears on the stroke of the interval with Sam Phillips crossing for Rushton whose frustrating evening continued with a wayward shot.

It was a similar story after the break with Tom Goodwin denied by home debutant Lang with a point blank save.

The Robins continued to dominate with Rushton also denied by Lang before the pressure finally told with 20 minutes remaining with a Callum Roberts shot cannoning back into the goalmouth where Joe Kenton pounced.

Newtown laid siege in the final stages with Ben Bailey and Luke Boundford firing over while Phillips also went close but the damage had already been done and upon the final whistle the Robins were left with plenty to ponder on the two and a half hour trek home.

NEWTOWN: D Jones, Roberts, Bailey, Denny (Cook), Mitchell (Boundford), Rushton, E Jones (Kenton), Phillips, Williams, Goodwin, Fletcher. Subs: Harries, Perry