NEWTOWN bid to maintain their bogey team status when JD Cymru Premier leaders TNS roll into Latham Park tonight (Friday).

While the Oswestrians arrive top of the table and in a battle for the title the Robins go into the game still needing points to seal a place in the top six ahead of the mid-season split.

Newtown, Cefn Druids and Cardiff Metropolitan are all vying for the last spot while striving to avoid the dreaded bottom six with two games remaining of the first phase.

Newtown head into the game on a high following a superb end of 2019 and New Year which has seen the climb climb into the top six having savoured a last gasp win at Aberystwyth Town in their most recent outing.

Such has been the Robins form the club has received a double boost with manager Chris Hughes nominated for manager of the month while defender Kieran Mills-Evans has been shortlisted for the player of the month accolade.

Hughes said: “We are looking forward to welcoming the league champions to Latham Park.

“We have been on a great run of form and if we get enough points on the board in the next two games we will be in the top six as we target every season.”

Hughes expressed relief at overcoming Aberystwyth but insisted the points deserved.

“We did not get the time and space on the ball like the game at our place on Boxing Day and it was a relief but a fantastic feeling to win.

“We deserved to win the game. We worked hard and in the end we got our rewards.”

Hughes praised the Robins squad for a bright end to 2019.

“We have ended the year well and it is testament to the players that we can go into the last two games of the first phase with our destiny in our own hands.

“We always look forward to TNS and we will see what happens.

“We are confident and hope we can get a big crowd of locals for our first home game in a while.”

Meanwhile the transfer window is open but the Robins are yet to strengthen with Hughes likely to look to bolster his squad in coming weeks to ensure the Mid Wales side remain competitive.