Newtown 2

Bala Town 3

NEWTOWN’s poor end of season form continued as Bala Town claimed the points under a baking Good Friday sun at Latham Park.

The Lakesiders fired a warning shot early on with Chris Seargeant’s 20 yard strike testing home goalkeeper Dave Jones.

Bala led soon after with Henry Jones’ free-kick picking out Chris Venables who had the freedom of Latham Park to head home and give his side a fifth minute lead.

Newtown almost levelled with their first attack only for Nick Rushton’s header to cannon off the underside of the bar with Bala hurriedly clearing their lines as the hosts appealed the ball had crossed the line.

Referee Gavin Townsend was in the thick of the action as Newtown pressed for an equaliser, ignoring strong penalty appeals when Rushton was impeded in the area before ruling out Rushton’s equaliser moments later for an earlier infringement.

However Newtown were level on 23 minutes with Steve Leslie converting a free-kick to the delight of the home faithful.

Just five minutes later and Newtown led when a swift break culminated in a deserved goal for Rushton who had been the outstanding player throughout the half.

The match continued to entertain with both sides attacking and this led to Bala snatching an equaliser just before the break with Jones once again setting up Venables to complete his brace.

Newtown started the second-half on top with a Craig Williams free-kick steered just over the bar by Kieran Mills-Evans.

However Bala threatened with playmaker Jones denied by the offside flag while also being joined by Anthony Miley in testing home goalkeeper Jones who ensured his side remained level.

Disaster struck with 15 minutes remaining when Kieran Smith’s throughball found Newtown’s defence wanting with Mike Hayes rounding Jones to slot into the net.

Newtown rallied with substitute Luke Boundford dragging a shot wide but the Robins could find no way back into the game as Bala held firm to claim the spoils.

NEWTOWN: Jones, Roberts, Mills-Evans, Denny, Mitchell (Hughes 77), Rushton, Kenton (Ahmadi 83), Leslie (Boundford 77), Williams, Fletcher, Barnes. Subs: Perry, Evans, Phillips.

Att - 302