Flint responded in the best way possible to recent setbacks by producing a scintillating display in the opening 40 minutes to go two goals ahead and miss another couple of great opportunities that would have put the game to bed before half time. As it was, Newtown managed to hit back just before the break with their only real opportunity on goal from the first half, to bring the scores a lot closer than should have been the case.
A pivotal save by Jack Flint early in the second half maintained the Silkmen’s advantage, and they went on to comfortably secure a well deserved victory.
The visitors took the lead on 9 minutes, when a Jake Phillips free kick was delivered to the far post and Izaack Lambert ghosted in ahead of his marker to get a vital touch to send the ball beyond Alex Swindell in the Newtown goal. This gave the Silkmen the perfect platform to express themselves, and they started playing some expansive free flowing football, with Ben Wynne, Ben Hughes, Josh Jones and Isaac Lee all combining well. It was Lee who was on target for the second goal, on 15 minutes. A Phillips long throw reached him on the near post, and he produced a sublime flick header to send the ball beyond Swindell.
Flint were now coasting and seemingly able to attack at will. A couple of minutes after the second goal, Wynne fed Hughes with a great through ball, and the youngster raced onto it and got his shot away, but Swindell managed to get the faintest of touches to it to deflect it just wide of the post.
On 33 minutes, Jones showed great alertness to get in behind a Newtown defender and tried to lob the oncoming Swindell, the ball narrowly clearing the bar.
Lee produced a fine run down the left, five minutes before the interval, riding a couple of challenges before finding Hughes, who in turn squared it to Florian Yonsian, but the resulting shot flashed over the bar, when a bit more composure was required.
The hosts hit back a couple of minutes before the break, with a well worked move. Zeli Ismael, who was their main attacking threat all evening, produced a fine delivery, standing the ball up to the back post, where it was met by Jason Oswell, who headed goalwards. Dominic Smith was on hand to force the ball over the line and get the home side back in contention at the break.
Ismael’s crosses would prove to be the most potent weapon in the Newtown armoury, and on 54 minutes he produced another great delivery, this time onto the head of Shane Sutton. He met it sweetly, from about 2 yards out, but what looked a certain equaliser was denied when Silkmen keeper Flint produced an excellent reaction save to divert it over the bar.
The second half would develop into a much more even affair, and after surviving that scare, a couple of minutes later Wynne showed good awareness by switching play and finding Jones, but Swindell denied him.
However, the returning Elliott Reeves put his stamp firmly on the game just before the hour mark to restore the Silkmen’s two goal cushion, with a well executed strike. Phillips produced an exquisite little chipped ball to send Reeves away through the middle Robins’ defender Calvin Smith forced him wide in the box, but from an acute angle Reeves smashed his shot past Swindell in off the underside of the bar from 12 yards out.
Reeves missed arguably a far easier chance shortly after. After getting possession just outside the box, he surged into the area, shrugging off the attentions of defenders only to pull his shot across the face of the goal at the vital moment, having done all the hard work.
Ismael gave the home side hope with 12 minutes remaining, when he executed an excellent free kick from a central position 20 yards out, striking the ball into the top corner beyond Flint.
However, the away side were not to be denied, and with two minutes of regulation time left, they struck again to make sure of the points. Jones received the ball on the left, cut inside and fired a precision shot just inside the post from 18 yards.
Report by Nigel Sheen
Line Ups :
Newtown AFC – A. Swindell, C. Smith (T. Hollinshead 66), C. Roberts, D. Smith, S. Sutton (C), G. Hughes, A. Williams, R. Evans (H. Boakye), J. Oswell, J. Lock (B. Guest 90), Z. Ismael (R. Price 90). Unused Subs – S. Ussher (GK), A. Roberts, I. Smout
Flint Town United – J. Flint, I. Lambert, I. Lee, S. Fofana, H. Owen (c), F. Yonsian, J. Phillips, B. Hughes (B. Beaumont 64), E. Reeves (H. Peagram 64) , B. Wynne (L. Mariette 70), J. Jones (T. Mfuni 90). Unused subs – L. Murphy (GK), M. Burke, G. Maire
Flint MOM – Isaac Lee (great all round contribution from a player who has been improving steadily over recent weeks)
