Newtown 1 TNS 1

NEWTOWN kept the JD Welsh Premier title race wide open while maintaining their unbeaten home record this season with a derby point with TNS.

With Connahs Quay Nomads faltering against Caernarfon Town the previous evening the Saints arrived at Latham Park knowing victory would give them breathing space at the top.

However it was Newtown who made the early breakthrough with Ethan Jones skilfully breaching the Saints defence to slot home inside the opening 10 minutes.

TNS struggled to string together any meaningful attacks in the first-half with the home defence dominant

Newtown could have added to their tally with Callum Roberts' cross miscued by Jones before Luke Boundford scuffed wide after TNS failed to clear a long throw from Alex Fletcher.

As ever the Saints chief threat continued to be Draper with the New Zealander's low strike gobbled up by goalkeeper Dave Jones on half an hour as the Robins saw out the half with their noses deservedly ahead.

However it was all one way traffic after the break as TNS laid siege.

Kurtis Byrne's low cross shot was bravely gathered by Jones before Ryan Brobbel's right wing cross on the hour was met by Draper only for Jones to comfortably gather.

Newtown continued to frustrate the misfiring Saints until quarter of an hour from time when Kieran Mills-Evans was adjudged to have brought down Draper in the area with the Saints striker converting the resulting penalty.

A frantic finale ensued as both sides looked to attack.

Newtown saw strong penalty appeals flatly rejected when a marauding run from Roberts down the left was ended by Chris Marriott.

TNS hopes of glory effectively ended when Jon Routledge picked up a needless second caution to earn his marching orders after petulantly kicking the ball away in injury-time.

Newtown: D Jones, Kenton, Roberts, Mills-Evans, Bailey, Denny, Fletcher, Mitchell, Boundford, E Jones, Rushton. Subs: Phillips, Perry, Goodwin, Leslie,W.Evans, Cook.

TNS: Harrison, Spender, Marriott, Cabango, Nembhard, Holland, Routledge, Brobbel, Redmond, Byrne, Draper. Subs: Roberts, Ebbe, Edwards, Lewis, Seargeant, Clark, Hmani.

Att - 302