Newtown in relegation trouble

Newtown plunged into the Welsh Premier League relegation zone with a 4-0 defeat at champions TNS this afternoon.

As the Robins were crashing to an expected defeat Haverfordwest were winning their second game of the festive period to lift themselves away from the bottom two.

Newtown were stretched to the limit for players but still managed to name three subs and were putting up a plucky display before running out of legs in the second half. Outstanding was Jamie Breeze, who played despite a heavy bout of flu, and ran himself into the ground for the cause.

Alex Darlington was The New Saints’ hero with all four goals. The hosts overcame the loss of three players to injury in the first-half to produce a superb second-half display after taking the lead on 17 minutes when Newtown’s defence failed to clear and the ball fell to Darlington, who lobbed into the far corner from the tightest of angles.

The Saints found it difficult to produce any cohesive football after losing Danny Holmes to a hamstring strain and striker Chris Sharp, who was knocked unconscious before being forced-off. Replacement Connell Rawlinson only lasted 21 minutes before he was stretchered-off with suspected ankle ligament damage.

A reorganised Saints came out with purpose after the break and soon doubled their lead in farcical circumstances. Keeper Dave Roberts mis-kicked his clearance and Darlington fired home from 35 yards with Roberts stranded as he tried to recover the situation.

Then Dave Swanick pulled down Craig Jones and Darlington completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot and added his fourth from a breakaway move to put the icing on the cake.

Haverfordwest County upset Aberystwyth with a 2-0 win at Park Avenue. Jack Christopher struck twice in the first half for the Bluebirds, slotting home unmarked at Steven Cann's near post on 23 minutes and, eight minutes later, beating the offside trap for his second.

Llanelli ended two months without a league game by climbing into the top six with a 3-1 victory at Carmarthen's Richmond Park. The Reds were forced to hit back from a goal down after Corey Thomas put the Old Gold in front on 20 minutes, heading home from a Darren Griffiths cross.
Jordan Follows scored in the 33rd and 77th minutes, with Craig Moses sealing the win two minutes later.