'Disappointing' - Newtown AFC boss rues missed chances in Rhyl draw

Jay Owen felt Newtown AFC could’ve been “out of sight” by half-time during their 2-2 draw at Rhyl in the Cymru North.

Joel Giblin fired Rhyl ahead after 15 minutes, before Newtown issued a swift response when Jamie Hyne equalised five minutes later with a great finish from outside the box.

Hanoch Boakye marked his introduction from the bench in style when he fired into the bottom right corner from distance to give Newtown the lead on 65 minutes.

But the Robins had to settle for a second successive stalemate, as Promise Nmadi snatched a point for Rhyl with an equaliser just five minutes from time.

“Disappointing. We were really disappointed with ourselves in there, where we feel like we put enough balls in the box and enough clear-cut opportunities in the first half to put the game to bed,” head coach Owen said.

“The second goal Rhyl scored, we had the exact same chance, but unfortunately we couldn’t put it away in the first half.

“I think if we’re being critical of ourselves then we could’ve been out of sight and gone into half-time comfortable.

“Then to go 2-1 up against the wind, and possibly against the run of play a little bit, it might have been 50/50. To then not be able to see the game out, with the way we just conceded that goal, was really disappointing.

“So it’s two points dropped in my opinion.”

Newtown remain second in the table, although league leaders Brickfield were able to extend their lead to six points with a 1-0 success at Porthmadog. Owen’s charges do boast a game in hand over Brickfield though.

Next, Newtown return to home soil, where they will be searching for a first win in three games ninth-placed Buckley at Lathams Park.