Newtown 1 Aberystwyth Town 1

NEIL Mitchell's late leveller earned Newtown a deserved point at home to Aberystwyth Town in tonight's mid Wales derby.

The Robins looked to be heading toward a third defeat of the season when Mitchell lashed into the top corner from close range with seconds remaining to deny the visitors their first win at Latham Park in two years.

Newtown began the game brightly with a James O'Neill heading Jake Phillips' right wing corner after seven minutes.

The frantic early pace continued as Newtown pressed while the Seasiders handed home goalkeeper Dave Jones a reminder of their own threat after 15 minutes with Jamie Veale's 20 yard free-kick gathered.

Two minutes later Newtown looked to have led led when Jack Kelly's left wing cross was chested down by Kieran Mill-Evans for Jamie Breese to slot home only to be adjudged offside.

Breese dragged a shot wide from 20 yards with half an hour gone as Newtown continued to have the better chances.

However the Seasiders snatched the lead on 34 minutes with Jamie Veale slamming home from 16 yards after Jonny Evans laid off Jack Rimmer's right wing cross.

The goal gave Aberystwyth a huge lift and two minutes later Evans' powerful 18 yard shot was parried by Jones with Evans lashing the rebound wide.

Evans continued to be in the thick of the action and seconds later was brought down when clean through on goal by O'Neill who was more than fortunate to escape with a caution.

Aberystwyth ended the half on top and came close to doubling their lead when Harri Rowe went on a surging run before setting up Rimmer whose powerful drive was parried away by a diving Jones.

The second-half began as the first had with Newtown on top.

Breese fired into the side netting and Nick Rushton hooked over from close range as the home side started brightly.

George Hughes and Ryan Edwards came all the more dominant in midfield with Hughes releasing Breese to force Connor Roberts into a good save on 65 minutes.

Newtown continued to dominate possession and introduced Tyrone Ofori and Jordan Evans to add further spark to their attack.

Another throughball from Hughes released Evans on the right wing on 76 minutes with the new signing from Airbus UK cutting inside only for his low shot to be smothered by Roberts.

The final 10 minutes saw the home side entrenched in the Aberystwyth half.

Mitchell headed Edwards right wing cross goalward only for Leigh Jenkins to hook off the line on 81 minutes.

Four minutes later Kelly's left wing cross was met by Rushton whose close range header forced Roberts into a fantastic save.

The pressure told a minute later with another Kelly cross headed back across goal by Rushton for Mitchell to blast home.

Newtown could have snuck a late winner with yet another Kelly cross picking out Rushton whose header was once again wonderfully turned away by Roberts as honours ended even at Latham Park.

Newtown

Jones, Phillips, Kelly, McAllister (Evans 74), Mills-Evans, O'Neill, Mitchell, Rushton, Breese (Ofori 67), Edwards, Hughes. Subs: Steventon, Davies,Williams

Aberystwyth Town

Roberts, Bradford, Rowe, Jenkins, M Jones, Veale, Williams, S Davies (A Davies 80), J Evans (Hughes 78), Owen (Thorn 55), Rimmer. Subs: R Davies, Ricketts, Saunders, G Jones