| Saints in control at Newtown |
| Saturday 20 February 2010 |
 THE New Saints maintained the pressure on leaders Llanelli by comfortably beating Newtown 2-0 at Latham Park. After goal-less draws on their two previous visits to the mid-Wales venue, the Saints went ahead after 13 minutes when Matthew Berkeley fired home a Tommy Holmes cross. The Robins should have equalised within two minutes, when Paul Roberts headed a Jamie Breeze cross wide of the far post, but the win was virtually sealed on the half-hour when former Robin Scott Ruscoe volleyed home a Craig Jones cross. Aberystwyth continued their good run of form with a 3-0 victory at Gap Connah's Quay, all the goals coming in the first-half from a Geoff Kellaway brace and Luke Sherbon. The Nomads finished the game with 10-men after the 81st-minute dismissal of Jamie Petrie. Rhyl stayed fourth after a 2-0 win at Porthmadog's Traeth, with player-boss Greg Strong and Mark Connolly scoring a goal in each half to leave the hosts in the basement zone. Despite winning 3-0 at home to Welshpool, there was late woe for fifth-place Port Talbot when leading scorer Liam McCreesh received a straight red two minutes from time, seconds after being cautioned. A Martin Rose penalty and goals from Neil Thomas and Matthew Rees, all in the first-half, had put the Steelmen on course for victory. Bangor City won a close contest at Farrar Road thanks to a 77th-minute goal from sub Ashley Stott. Jack Christopher had given Haverfordwest a third-minute lead and also got the Bluebirds' equaliser in reply to home goals from Craig Garside and Jamie Reed. Carmarthen got a much-needed win at home to bottom club Caersws, but only managed one goal from Mark Pritchard in the 29th-minute after good work by Danny Thomas and Paul Fowler. Phil Jones missed a late chance to snatch an equaliser for the Villagers. Photo: The New Saints' Chris Sharp and Matthew Berkeley appeal for a penalty in the 2-0 win at Newtown. |