Flint lose out in five goal thriller

Up to that point Flint had been well in control, had carved out the better chances and were full value for their 2-1 lead. But, from out of the blue, and against the run of play, Nick Rushton brought the hosts back into it, to level at 2-2 before substitute Tyrone Ofori struck soon after the restart to put Newtown 3-2 ahead, a lead they were not to relinquish.
This now makes it seven straight defeats for the Silkmen in a season that is rapidly turning into a nightmare return to the top flight of Welsh football following a 22 year absence.
They had started the game the stronger, but once again a failure to make the most of their chances and some defensive lapses at critical times proved their undoing.
On 3 minutes, Rob Hughes drilled a free kick just over the Newtown bar. Then, on 12 minutes, a fine move ended with Callum Bratley beating Robins' keeper Dave Jones on his near post to put Flint in front. Bratley had began the move by running the ball out of his own half, before finding Alex Jones on the right, and carried on bursting forward. Jones picked him out with an eye of the needle threaded pass, and Bratley did the rest by sweeping the ball home.
Newtown responded through a Jamie Breese effort that was comfortably dealt with by John Danby in the Flint goal. Then, on 25 minutes, they levelled, as a Neil Mitchell cross from the right clipped off the head of a backtracking Sam Hart, and looped over Danby into the goal.
The Flint stopper had to be alert just before the interval, saving low down to his left, to keep the scores level.
Ten minutes into the second half, Flint restored their advantage, when a shot from Hughes, which was initially blocked, fell to the feet of captain Richie Foulkes, who poked it home. The pair combined again shortly after, but this this time the effort was cleared for a corner.
Flint continued to try and press home their advantage, going close with a header and then a Bratley effort which went narrowly wide of the mark.
However, the Robins hit back once more on 67 minutes, as a cross from the right was sweetly met by an unmarked Nick Rushton 8 yards out, who headed home. Flint had barely time to recover from that setback, when they found themselves behind, and they only have themselves to blame for not adequately clearing the danger. A low cross was delivered into the box, towards Mathew Williams on the byeline, who was being marshalled by two defenders. But the ball was allowed to escape through, and was then deflected into the path of Ofori, who turned and swivelled on the edge of the six yard box, and scored.
Flint poured forward in the dying stages to try and rescue a point, and were denied what they thought was a clear penalty for handball, whilst Nash and Harwood also went close with headers, but once again it was to no avail.

Line Ups :
Newtown - D. Jones, J. Phillips (J. Kelly 45), K. Mills-Evans, J. O'Neill, N. Mitchell, N. Rushton, J. Breese (T. Ofori 66), J. Evans, J. Davies (M. Williams 66), C. Williams (c), R. Edwards. Unused Subs - K. Steventon (GK), T. Davies, D. Downs
Flint Town United - J. Danby, W. Baynes (M. Cadwallader 89), S. Hart, B. Nash, K. Edwards, J. Palmer (L. Davies 83), R. Hughes (C. Harwood 61), R. Foulkes (c), C. Bratley, B. Maher, A. Jones. Unused Subs - A. Jones (GK), B. Lockley, K. Wallis

Flint MOM - Callum Bratley (Flint's most dangerous attacker who put in a non-stop performance, typified by his goal)