Newtown 3 Flint Town United 2

NEWTOWN breathed new fire into their season with a rousing fightback at home to Flint Town United.

The Deesiders twice led at Latham Park only for the Robins to hit back with two goals in as many minutes to claim the spoils.

The match was played under almost ceaseless rain as both sides looked to hit the ground running in their first action since the end of the latest Welsh lockdown.

Alex Jones' free-kick dipped just over the bar from the edge of the area as Flint went close to breaking the deadlock early on.

However the visitors did not have to wait much longer and led on 11 minutes with Callum Bratley racing onto Jones' throughball to prod past home goalkeeper Dave Jones.

Newtown's first chance of the game arrived five minutes later but Jamie Breese's 25 yard drive was comfortably gathered by goalkeeper Jon Danby.

Danby was left high and dry as Newtown hit back on 25 minutes with Neil Mitchell's cross shot from the right wing picking up a slight deflection enroute to the top corner.

The downpour continued to affect both teams for the remainder of the half which was played at a frenetic pace.

On the stroke of half-time the hosts came close to leading when Ryan Edwards' 25 yard drive forced Danby into action with James Davies' tame follow up effort gathered by the grateful keeper.

Flint immediately attacked and it took a brave save from Jones at the feet of Richie Foulkes to keep the score level at the break.

It was Foulkes who restored Flint's lead early in the second-half when the home side lost possession deep in their own half and Rob Hughes' cross was turned home from close range.

Flint could have extended their lead only for Bratley to glance a headed effort wide before Jones fired inches wide from distance.

Newtown were back on level terms on 64 minutes with Mitchell skilfully releasing Craig Williams on the right wing to cross for Nick Rushton to head past Danby on the near post.

Two minutes later Newtown led for the first time with Mitchell again involved with his low right wing cross swivelled home on the far post by substitute Tyrone Ofori.

Flint laid siege to the Newtown box for the remainder of the match with the home side forced to defend in numbers.

However the Deesiders struggled to find a route through with their best chance coming from Sam Hart's free-kick which met by Ben Nash who forced a point blank save from Jones with 15 minutes remaining.

Flint threw everything at the home side for the final quarter of an hour with Newtown unable to get out of their own half but resolute defending ensured three points.

NEWTOWN: Jones, Williams, Mills-Evans, O'Neill, Phillips, Mitchell, Rushton, Breese, Evans, Davies, Edwards. Subs: Steventon, Kelly, Williams, Davies

FLINT: Danby, Hart, Baynes, Nash, Edwards, Hughes, Foulkes, Alex Jones, Bratley, Palmer, Maher. Subs: Aaron Jones, Cadwallader, Wallis, Harwood, Lockley, Davies