Ten man Newtown suffer derby defeat at Aberystwyth

The Seasiders were also indebted to onloan goalkeeper Connor Roberts who denied Alex Fletcher from the penalty spot with 10 minutes remaining - summing up a frustrating afternoon on the Ceredigion coast for Chris Hughes' men.

The derby offered little in the way of free flowing football with defences firmly on top during the early stages of the game.

It took 25 minutes for the hosts to muster their first real opening with Owain Jones' shot blocked for a corner with Franklin firing wide from the resulting set-piece.

Three minutes later Lifumpa Mwandwe fired wide in Newtown's first effort on goal.

However chances continued to be scarce with little to choose between the sides in a tightly contested first-half.

Newtown had the best chance of the first period just before the interval with Mwandwe crossing for Tyrone Ofori who fired over the bar.

Just before the break the Seasiders also threatened with Mathew Jones' powerful shot parried by goalkeeper Dave Jones into the path of Franklin whose appeals for a penalty after going to ground in the resulting melee were ignored.

Newtown were dealt a blow when Ofori saw red after a latch challenge on Lee Jenkins just five minutes into the second-half.

Newtown rang the changes with Jamie Breese and Jake Phillips entering the fray on the hour.

Despite Newtown's numerical disadvantage the match continued to be evenly contested with the home side struggling to find a way through a reorganised visiting formation.

On 66 minutes Marc Williams' tame effort was comfortably saved by Jones.

A minute later Fletcher forced Roberts into action from distance as Newtown provided their hosts with a scare.

The game opened up with Jac Rimmer releasing Franklin to pick out Jamie Reed who tested Jones.

Five minutes later Jones was called upon again to produce a stunning close range save to deny Jenkins.

However the pressure told on 77 minutes as Franklin raced onto a throughball to hold his nerve and loft a weighed shot over the advancing Jones and into the empty net.

Newtown were afforded a route back into the game just three minutes later.

However Fletcher's penalty was saved by Roberts and Aberystwyth held firm to celebrate three hard earned derby points.

Aberystwyth Town

Roberts, Bradford, Jenkins, Franklin, M Jones, Veale, Williams, O Jones, Thorn, Reed, Rimmer. Subs: Owen, Davies, Evans, Ricketts, Hewitt, Saunders, Kellaway.

Newtown

Jones, Kelly, Mills-Evans, O'Neill, Evans, Davies, Williams, Ofori, Hughes, Fletcher, Mwandwe. Subs: Steventon, Phillips, McAllister, Breese, Downs, Edwards, Letford.