CHRIS Seargeant came off the bench to break Newtown hearts as TNS left it late to win at Paveaways Latham Park. 

The Saints forged a two goal lead only for the Robins to threaten to upset the odds after clawing their way back on terms only for Seargeant to leave them stunned with his 30 yard winner at the death. 

The winner came six minutes into stoppage time and referee Richard Harrington received a chorus of jeers after blowing for full time before the re-start. 

TNS hit the ground running and led with the first attack of the game as Adrian Cieslewicz cut in from the left to square for Aeron Edwards to steer past goalkeeper Dave Jones from close range. 

TNS continued to ask all the early questions with Scott Quigley firing wide before Cieslewicz cut in from the left once again with his shot tipped over the bar by the busy Jones. 

The early pressure told on 26 minutes when TNS doubled their lead with Cieslewicz squaring for Alex Darlington whose cross from the edge of the area found Mike Wilde on the far post to steer home. 

Finally Newtown came to life and just two minutes later reminded TNS why they have emerged as one of the season's surprise packages. 

Matty Hearsey enjoyed his best outing of the season with his left wing cross on 28 minutes steered onto the bar by Neil Mitchell with Saints goalkeeper Paul Harrison rooted. 

Newtown were back in the game a minute later when Tom Goodwin won possession in midfield to release Jason Oswell who outpaced Connell Rawlinson to drill home from the edge of the area. 

Both sides had chances before the break with Darlington's header forcing Jones into action while at the other end both Goodwin and Shane Sutton failed to control their headed efforts. 

Wing wizard Hearsey wasted little time before bringing his side level seven minutes after the break with the wideman showcasing his talent by cutting inside from the left and beating three defenders before slotting home for a memorable goal. 

TNS sought to restore their lead only for Wilde to steer a Simon Spender right wing cross wide but the Saints now found themselves under the cosh with Newtown in the ascendancy. 

Another left wing cross from Hearsey on 73 minutes saw Oswell unable to convert on the far post and TNS heeded the warning and for the final quarter encamped themselves in the home half. 

Newtown dug in and soaked up the relentless pressure and could have led when substitute Alex Hughes almost made an immediate impact as an injury-time substitution, racing through only to see his low shot blocked by Harrison. 

Just seconds later Seargeant's 30 yard shot picked up a wicked deflection to leave Jones clasping at air as TNS celebrated a last gasp victory which stretched their lead at the top of the table. 

Match Stats:

Newtown: Jones, Williams, Edwards, Sutton, Mills-Evans, Goodwin, Owen, Mitchell, Boundford, Oswell (Hughes), Hearsey (Evans). Subs: Perry, Easthope, Price 

The New Saints: Harrison, Spender, Pryce (Draper), Baker, K Edwards, Rawlinson, Quigley (Mullan), A Edwards, Wilde, Darlington (Seargeant), Cieslewicz. Subs: Ruscoe, Mullock, Kershaw, Hajdari 

Attendance: 394 

Referee: Richard Harrington