Newell nightmare as Newtown sunk at home to Bala Town

The match was over as a contest by half-time with George Newell’s five minute hat-trick cancelling out Louis Robles’ fine equaliser after the Lakesiders broke the deadlock through Osebi Abadaki’s 13th minute strike.

Abadaki completed the scoring with his second of the match after the break with the Robins well and truly beaten.

There had been no signs of the pending collapse with the Robins enjoying a bright start.

Action from Newtown's defeat to Bala Town. Picture by Dave Evans.

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Dominic Smith met Henry Cowans’ left wing free-kick but failed to muster sufficient power to trouble goalkeeper Kelland Absalom.

Luke Wall proved an early menace at the other end, first dragging a shot wide from the edge of the area before racing onto a long ball from Absalom and cutting inside only to be denied by goalkeeper Andy Wycherly at the second attempt.

Newtown were punished for losing possession cheaply on the edge of their area on 13 minutes with Henry Cowans’ misplaced pass seized upon by Abadaki who linked with Paulo Mendes before drilling home from eight yards.

Action from Newtown's defeat to Bala Town. Picture by Dave Evans.

Cowans atoned 10 minutes later with his decisive pass to Fumpa Mwande who swiftly released Robles to curl a glorious shot beyond the reach of Absalom from the edge of the area.

However, it would prove the only highlight of the day for the Robins.

Newtown’s collapse began in the 27th minute with Newell heading home Mendes’ right wing corner from five yards.

Action from Newtown's defeat to Bala Town. Picture by Dave Evans.

A minute later Naim Arsan dispossessed Mwandwe on the halfway line and a long ball released Newell who cut loose of Shane Sutton and the stranded home defence to slot home.

The pressure continued with Arsan’s cross steered across the face of goal by Newell and put into his own net by Sutton moments later only for the effort to be ruled out with the Bala forward offside.

Newell completed his hat-trick after 33 minutes with his close range strike deflected into the net by Ryan Sears after the home defence failed to clear a dangerous right wing cross from Wall.

Newtown’s misery was completed on the hour with Abadaki racing onto a glanced long ball from Absalom to lash past Wycherley from 16 yards and leave Ruscoe with much to ponder ahead of Friday night’s trip to Caernarfon Town.

Newtown: Wycherley, Sears, Sutton, Mwandwe, Evans (Ismael 57), Oswell, Robles, Cowans, Jones, Hughes, D Smith (Roberts 46). Subs: Ussher, C Smith, Williams, Downs.

Bala: Absalom, Wall (Ukek 82), Burke, Newell, Abadaki, Edwards (Roberts 82), Mendes, White, Harrison, Malkin (K Williams 87), Arsan. Subs: Hughes, Rogers