TNS 0 Newtown 0

TEN man Newtown dug deep to frustrate TNS under the blazing Powys sun on the opening day of the season at Latham Park today.

The match was evenly poised until Zeli Ismail's dismissal on the hour left Newtown to soak up half an hour of relentless pressure to claim a share of the spoils.

Newtown began the match with some early enterprise without testing goalkeeper Connor Roberts.

Meanwhile TNS threatened when Jon Routledge burst past Ryan Sears only to curl well wide of the post under pressure from goalkeeper Dave Jones.

TNS continued to edge their way into the game with Adrian Cieslewicz firing wide before Josh Daniels saw an effort blocked on the edge of the area.

The first-half hailed to inspire with neither side capable of sustained pressure under an unforgiving sun.

Things came alive once more in the second-half though, and not long after the restart, Ryan Astles rescued his side, heading a goalbound effort off the line with Aaron Williams adamant the ball had crossed.

 

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In the 60th minute, there was more drama, as Newtown’s Zeli Ismail was shown a straight red card for apparent dissent, leaving the home team a man light for the final half hour.

This changed the pattern of the game with the Robins content to soak up the relentless pressure for the remainder of the match.

Keston Davies forced Dave Jones into action from 25 yards as TNS sought a breakthrough.

With 15 minutes to play, it was Newtown’s turn to head the ball off the line, with Ryan Sears getting the vital touch to prevent Josh Daniels from scoring his first goal for the club.

Four minutes later, the ball cannoned back off the hosts’ crossbar from close range with Astles denied.

In the 85th minute, Danny Redmond thought he had won the game for his side when he turned the ball home with a spectacular overhead kick but referee Thomas Owen adjudged an infringement with Jake Walker kicked in the build up as the match petered out to a goalless draw.

NEWTOWN: Jones, Roberts, Sears, Sutton, C Williams, Robles (Hesden 87), A Williams, Cowans, Ismail, Hughes, Walker. Subs: Hyde, B Taylor, Mills-Evans, Rushton, Wharton, Smallwood

TNS: Roberts, Marriott, Davies (Hudson 90), Astles, Routledge, Daniels, McManus, Redmond, Cieslewicz, Williams, Clark (Smith 90). Subs: Atherton, Bradford, Canavan, Lock, Warder