Newtown 3 Barry TU 0

NEWTOWN all but ended Barry Town United's title bid with an emphatic victory as Rio Ahmadi maintained his goal laden form.

The Iranian star has not looked back since his New Year arrival from Aberystwyth Town with his brace of penalties either side of an Alex Fletcher strike settling the outcome by half-time.

Ahmadi tested Barry goalkeeper Mike Lewis with a 16th minute volley in a tight opening with no quarter given by either side.

However a moment of madness of Lewis 10 minutes later changed the fate of the game with the goalkeeper charging into Joe Kenton's path to give referee Dean John the simplest decision of his refereeing career in pointing to the spot with Ahmadi converting.

Newtown grew in confidence with Barry all at sea with Drew Fahiya fortunate not to see red for his reckless challenge on Callum Roberts which curiously earned the Robins defender a caution as well as his assailant.

Barry's first real opening arrived on 32 minutes with Jordan Cotterill's shot saved by goalkeeper Dave Jones.

Newtown doubled their lead three minutes later with Kenton skilfully laying a pass into the path of Fletcher who swept a low shot beyond the reach of Lewis.

A minutes later Fletcher was brought down in the area by Momodou Touray with Ahmadi's chipped penalty leaving the home side with a commanding lead going into the break.

Newtown continued to dominate after the break as Barry continued to be picked apart.

Kenton forced Lewis into a finger tip save over the bar and continued to torment a sluggish visiting defence.

Kieran Mills-Evans cleared Kayne McLaggon's headed effort off the line as Barry looked for a route back into the game.

However Newtown heeded the warning and almost added to their tally only for Kenton to rattle the bar on 75 minutes before steering Craig Williams' cross onto the post at the death.

NEWTOWN: Jones, Roberts, Mills-Evans, Denny, Rushton (Boundford 88), Kenton, Hughes (Phillips 88), Williams, Fletcher, Barnes, Ahmadi (Mitchell 81). Subs: Leslie, Evans, Perry

Att -254