Newtown 1

Connahs QN 1

NEWTOWN were left frustrated as Connahs Quay hit back for a controversial point at Latham Park on Friday night.

Newtown raised their game for the visit of the full time side during a match marred by controversial decisions from referee Martin Roberts.

Newtown started the game with intent and full of running as the crowd bayed for an upset.

Ian Sheridan volleyed over the bar before Craig Williams tested Nomads goalkeeper Lewis Brass with a 30 yard free-kick.

Nomads continued to be placed firmly under the cosh early on as Newtown dominated midfield.

However Nomads should have been awarded a penalty when a long throw from Callum Roberts was handled by Jack Kelly only for referee Roberts to wave play on.

Nick Rushton came close to breaking the deadlock on 26 minutes only to graze the woodwork from 25 yards.

Nomads continued to feed off scraps with Mike Bakare and Jamie Insall kept quiet while Mike Wilde was kept in the pocket Kieran Mills-Evans.

Newtown led on the stroke of half-time with Williams’ right wing cross met by Jack Kelly on the far post who laid the ball into the path of Rushton to skilfully lift over Brass to break the deadlock.

Nomads hit the ground running after the break with Nathan Woolfe firing wide before ex-Newtown favourite Callum Roberts headed Woolfe’s right wing cross wide.

Newtown had two penalty appealed rejected on the hour.

Latham Park was left stunned as referee Roberts failed to award a penalty when Dan Harrison blatantly handled Williams’ corner and moments later Rushton was clattered from behind by Priestly Farquharson on the by line only for the Anglesey official to once again look the other way.

To add insult to injury Rushton remained on the turf when a long ball from Farquharson released Bakare to lift over goalkeeper Dave Jones to level on 62 minutes.

Both sides had chances late on with George Harry heading a Williams corner over the bar while Jones came to Newtown’s rescue to deny Wilde and Bakare at the death.

NEWTOWN: Jones, McAllister, Mills-Evans, Denny, Mitchell, Rushton (Mwandwe 72), Sheridan (Harry 69), Kenton, Williams, Kelly, Barnes. Subs: Steventon, Morris, Thorn, Flint.

Att - 281