Newtown 1 Llanelli AFC 1

At least the visitors brought an end to a dismal run of five successive league defeats at Newtown, but a point apiece was little comfort for either side who both find themselves in the bottom three in the league table with just Afan Lido below them.

Wins for both Aberystwyth Town and Carmarthen Town against Gap Connah`s Quay and The New Saints respectively has opened up a two point gap, and with the Reds entertaining the Seasiders at Stebonheath next Friday evening, this match becomes a must win for the home side.

The visitors surprisingly included Mamadou Diallo in their starting line up despite rumours he had departed the club, while Martin Rose, Geoff Kellaway and Craig Williams were all named on the bench, although still missing were Ashley Evans, Corey Jenkins and Jason Bowen through suspension.

The opening twenty minutes saw the Reds in the ascendancy and their opponents were hard pressed to contain them, and they have goalkeeper Dave Roberts to thank as early as the 11th minute when he denied Lloyd Grist with a superb save, fingertipping over a ball destined for the top corner. A few minutes later, it took a fine sliding tackle from central defender Connell Rawlinson on Luke Bowen to prevent him unleashing a shot from the edge of the box with only Roberts to beat.

A breakthrough for the Reds seemed inevitable, and it finally arrived on 16 minutes when Grist seized on a pass from Bowen to make inroads down the right, and he finished well, slotting the ball beyond the keeper.

Newtown retaliated to this setback, with Shane Sutton blasting his effort over the top, but it was the visitors who were looking the more likely to extend the lead with Grist being again involved, with Sutton just managing to get in a tackle which saw his attempt drift wide, and then skying over another chance from the edge of the box.

Craig Williams and Matty Collins combined when the home side broke with the latter sending his strike just off target, while Williams then turned provider by crossing to Andy Jones, but his header was too high. Jones was involved in a move with Williams which culminated in the final attempt curling inches past the upright, before the Reds were dealt in a blow when captain Chris Venables was forced to leave the field on 37 minutes following a collision which might have resulted in a shoulder or chest injury, and in any case necessitated a later hospital visit. Just before the break, Roberts had to sprint off his line to clear from the oncoming Craig Moses and deny him a strike on goal.

In the second period, Newtown enjoyed far more of the play and the visitors goal came under increasing pressure as the half progressed, and an equaliser duly arrived nine minutes after the restart when a Williams corner was met by Jones who directed a firm header into the net.

Roberts was called into action to again turn over a Reds corner which appeared to be drifting into the goal, while at the other end Luke Boundford with a surging run through the Reds midfield lost his footing on the slippery surface at the vital moment, and the ball ran harmlessly out of play. A Max Penk cross found the head of Jones in front of goal, but Craig Morris brought off a fine save to keep it out, and when Williams met the rebound, he directed it off target.

Morris did well shortly after to beat Williams to the ball in the six yard area when Boundford set up the chance, and he was in action again, this time smothering a near post delivery by Jones.

With time running out, the Reds had a great chance of clinching all three points when Moses drew Roberts out of his goal before beating him and crossing to Bowen perfectly positioned at the far post with the goal gaping and no defenders in sight, but he somehow managed to contrive to slice the chance horribly wide. If this had gone in, it would have been harsh on Newtown who were the better side in the second half, but a point apiece was probably a fair result at the final whistle.