Corbett Sports Welsh Premier
Newtown 1 TNS 3
THE New Saints returned to the Welsh Premier summit, after coming from behind to beat lowly Newtown.
The Robins defended stoutly in the first-half and stunned Latham Park 10 minutes into the second-half, when Luke Boundford headed home.
Moments before, on-loan striker Nicky Rushton, rattled the post and stirred the Saints into life after a lethargic start to the second-half proceedings.
Newtown goalkeeper Nick Thomas endured a busy first-half and was tested after just two minutes when Craig Jones met a Chris Marriott left-wing cross.
TNS had a let off at the other end when referee Brian James ignored strong penalty appeals, when Zac Evans appeared to be impeded by Simon Spender.
On 16 minutes visiting goalkeeper Paul Harrison was forced to gather an effort from Evans.
TNS came to life after half an hour with a 25-yard blast from Chris Seargeant tipped over by a stretched Thomas.
Just moments later Craig Jones swung over a left-wing cross, which the in form Alex Darlington failed to convert with his header whistling wide.
Steve Evans steered a Seargeant free-kick wide on 38 minutes, with the former Wrexham and Wales defender injuring himself in the process.
The half ended with Thomas getting down quickly to smother another effort from Darlington as the half ended goalless.
Newtown came out with a newly found confidence after the break and on 51 minutes Rushton dragged a shot onto the woodwork, as TNS breathed a huge sigh of relief.
Steve Blenkinsop’s header forced Harrison to concede a corner four minutes later and from Evans’ resulting delivery Boundford rose to head home and send Newtown into delirium.
With their tails up the home side sought a second, with Rushton going close on the hour.
However a double substitution from Saints’ coach Carl Darlington saw Tom Roberts and ex-Newtown favourite Scott Ruscoe change the face of the game.
TNS were immediately more positive and it was no surprise when the added pressure finally told, with Seargeant releasing Spender to slot home a 68th minute equaliser.
Four minutes later substitute Roberts fired home from 18 yards, as Newtown began to fade, and just two minutes later Jones was left unmarked to nod home a cross from Ruscoe to settle the outcome.
Newtown’s main spark of creativity Zac Evans was substituted with a quarter of an hour remaining to end any hope of a comeback.
Ultimately TNS could have won the game by more as Newtown’s resistance evaporated in the closing minutes with Roberts’ shot pushed away by Thomas late in the day.
The Robins now face another spring in the relegation conference, with the threat of 2012 being their final act as a top-flight club becoming more real by the week.
TNS were far from impressive, but their clinical finishing when it mattered most ensured they topped the Welsh football tree at the end of 2011.