Newtown 2-3 TNS - Report
A second half comeback helped TNS stretch their lead in the JD Welsh Premier League as they came from two goals behind in the Mid Wales derby.
Newtown raced into a 2-0 lead but the Saints showed why they are champions, scoring three goals in the second period to claim another three points
The Saints were looking to take advantage of Bangor City's weekend slip, and laid siege to the Robins box early on.
A few scrambles were cleared by some dogged Newtown defending, with Chris Hughes hoping his troops could hit the visitors on the break.
And that was to be the case early on, as with 25 minutes on the clock Kieran Mills-Evans went down in the area, and the ref pointed to the spot for Jamie Reed to fire home.
Three minutes later the strugglers were in dreamland as they found themselves two goals to the good.
Luke Boundford picked the pocket of Chris Marriott, and found Nick Rushton, and the winger slipped in Reed who swept a ball across the keeper and into the corner.
The Saints pressure was relentless but the Robins held out until the 68th minute when the referee was in the thick of the action again.
Substitute Robbie Parry slipped in Chris Marriott who went down under the challenge of Luke Boundford, and a spot kick was given with no complaints from the Robins.
Greg Draper stepped up and sent the keeper the wrong way, however Draper was dragged into controversy moments later.
An innocuous ball was going back to the keeper, but the referee adjudged that he kicked defender Kieran Mills-Evans in the process and he was adjudged to have kicked the centre half.
Boundford was guilty of spurning an opportunity to kill the game 20 minutes from time and they were punished for it.
Blaine Hudson lashed an equaliser home from 35 yards, and seconds later the comeback was complete as Ryan Brobbel curled a shot beyond Dave Jones.
Newtown pressed late on the level it and nearly did with the last kick of the game, but young keeper Aaron Jones denied Tom Goodwin at the death.
