Newtown 2 Ammanford 0

NEWTOWN made heavy work of JD Cymru South side Ammanford before booking their place in the third round of the Nathaniel MG Cup on Saturday.

The tone was set early with Nick Rushton curling a 25 yard shot onto the bar inside the opening five minutes.

The Robins dominated the first-half and new signing Sean McAllister almost marked his debut with a goal on 20 minutes only for his low strike to be tipped around the post by goalkeeper Craig Morris.

Newtown led from the resulting corner with Lufumpa Mwandwe following up to score from close range after Morris pushed Kieran Mills-Evans’ header onto the bar.

The hosts should have sewn up the game by the break only for Rushton to blaze over an open goal from five yards before firing straight at Morris when clean through on goal while Sam Phillips also blasted wide from distance.

Ammanford handed the wasteful hosts a warning just before the break with Ben Soal firing just wide.

It was a similar story after the break with Newtown dominant only to spurn their chances with Mills-Evans heading onto the bar on the hour.

Both sides made changes and the South Wales side enjoyed their best spell of the game as nervousness crept into the watching home faithful as Town continued to pushed back into their own half.

Gavin Jones and Lee Trundle both fired wide for the visitors while Newtown spurned chances at the other end with Phillips and Rushton blazing over from close range.

Ammanford almost punished the hosts with three minutes remaining with substitute Ricky Martin firing just wide moments after his arrival.

The fright sparked Town into life and moments later McAllister settled the tie with a superb 30 yard lob after goalkeeper Morris raced out of his goal to chase down a loose ball.

To their credit the visitors continued to attack and with the last action of the game a 20 yard free-kick from Craig Frater was pushed onto the post by Jones

NEWTOWN: Jones, McAllister, Mills-Evans, Rushton, Harry (Thorm (67), Phillips, Mwandwe (Kenton 67), Flint, Kelly, Barnes. Subs: Steventon, Lewis

Att - 202