MATCH REPORT: NEWTOWN AFC 2-3 ABERYSTWYTH TOWN

Aber Town gave one of their best performances of Phase 2 and finally fell on the right end of a tight game at Latham Park on Saturday afternoon, with a 3-2 win which relegated hosts Newtown.

On a beautiful warm lunchtime in Powys the game started in a low key fashion, but Rico Patterson was involved early, earning a free kick and having two efforts blocked. Aaron Williams volleyed over from the right side, Patterson was blocked again as was Iwan Lewis soon afterwards. Seb Osment in goal for Aber gathered a low attempt from George Hughes, then Flint flashed a volley wide, and Osment denied Dom Smith’s header from a corner.

The Black and Greens were looking good going forward: Flint burst through and was so unlucky to see his shot rebound off the far post, so it was against the run of play when Newtown took the lead. Sharp walzed through from the right back position, regained possession and tapped the ball inside the far post for one nil. This was harsh on Aber, and they retaliated just before the break when Alex Darlington’s cute through ball fell perfectly for the onrushing Flint, and he found the bottom corner with a brilliant strike to equalise. The prominent Zac Hartley cleared Oswell’s effort off the line and the teams went in level at the break.

Newtown desperately needed a win to retain any hopes of survival, but Aber continued to press after the break. Abdi Sharif flashed a header past the post from Flint’s corner, but then back came the hosts: Darlington headed Williams’ volley clear, and from the resulting corner Smith’s knock down at the back post fell nicely for Oswell to bundle home.

Still the visitors continued to take the initiative: hard working Liam Walsh’s cross found Darlington at the back post, who sent an attempt wide, then Walsh himself was denied by Schwarzer in the home goal. Lewis fired wide for Aber, as did Williams for Newtown, then Hughes’ free kick was tapped behind by Osment, who also denied Williams at the back post to keep the visitors in it. Then Darlington again released Flint down the left, and his cross was handled by home sub Jolyon Harries for a penalty, which Flint confidently dispatched for his seventh goal of the season. Patterson found Flint whose effort kissed off the post, then a simple ball into the box saw sub Cline nick in to double head the ball home past a statuesque defence, and put Aber in front.

With Louis Bradford and John Owen looking solid at the back there was no way back for a totally dispirited Newtown, and indeed Aber came closest to a late goal when subs Gwydion Dafis set up Tom Mason, who brought another save from Schwarzer, and Aber had earned a thoroughly deserved three points.

Alas this win came too late to have any impact on the Black and Greens’ destiny this season, but a positive performance from Antonio Corbisiero’s men raised spirits ahead of the season ending test at home to Connah’s Quay Nomads on Saturday lunchtime (KO 12.45pm). We’ll be there!