Newtown AFC goalkeeper hailed as 'best in the division' after victory over Ruthin

Newtown AFC boss Jay Owen has hailed Dave Jones as the “best goalkeeper” in the Cymru North, after he registered another clean sheet in their 2-0 win at Ruthin on Friday night.

The 36-year-old has kept nine clean sheets in 13 league appearances this term and has been a mainstay between the posts for Newtown across three spells, the first starting in 2007.

On his 432nd appearance for the club, Newtown sealed victory thanks to first half goals from Hanoch Boakye and Josh Astley.

Newtown goalkeeper hailed as ‘Best in the division’

“In the second half, I feel like we were hanging on a little bit, but that’s what you’ve got to do away from home,” head coach Owen said.

“Away to Ruthin on a Friday night- we’ve kept a clean sheet and come away with a victory. We’re over the moon with it.

“Two or three saves in that second half were brilliant. A couple of the saves and the one that he just took out of the sky was massive for us.

“The clean sheets show that for him personally for him as well. I’ve said it before, but I do believe he’s the best goalkeeper in the league and he proves that week in, week out.

“Not just his shot-stopping, but his communication and kicking as well.”

That result keeps Newtown in second-place, four points behind league leaders Brickfield Rangers, who they boast a game in hand over.

On the performance, Owen continued: “A very good away performance. We scored at the right times, we started really fast and then got that goal, which settled us down a little bit.

“I don’t think we got on top of the game, I thought it was a very scrappy game, but we scored at the right times.

“Obviously the second goal just before half-time was crucial for us.”