A fairly non-descript first half was suddenly brought to life in the 35th minute, when Jake Phillips was adjudged to have felled Newtown’s Callum Roberts in the box. Phillips slid in and clearly, and cleanly, won the ball as Roberts made inroads into the Flint area. But match official Iwan Griffiths, who had an excellent vantage point, had other ideas, and instantly pointed to the spot. Arron Williams despatched the resulting penalty despite Jon Rushton diving the correct way, and just failing to reach the ball.
Make no mistake, on the balance of play, the lead was probably deserved for the hosts, but with neither keeper having been seriously troubled up to that point, the manner in which it was conceded was a sickening blow to Flint, who whilst offering very little up front had defended quite comfortably.
The Silkmen had earlier lost Danny Harrison to injury, who had come off worse when stopping a Newtown attack, and conceding a free kick.
Flint’s afternoon was to receive a further set back early in the second half when Michael Wilde was issued with a straight red for leading with the elbow in a challenge on 55 minutes. This means he will miss the Boxing Day/New Year’s Day clashes against his former club Connah’s Quay Nomads.
The game was effectively over as a contest on 63 minutes, when Jake Walker unleashed an absolute screamer into the net from outside the box. Following a throw in on the right, the ball was partially cleared, but Walker met it sweetly from around 24 yards out on the half volley as it bounced up off the surface, giving Rushton absolutely no chance.
Flint’s only effort on target of the afternoon came from substitute Mark Cadwallader on 70 minutes, when he broke through the lines and forced Dave Jones to make a good save on his near post. After he had blocked the effort, the ball squirmed loose and briefly, and tantalisingly, bounced along the line, before it was hacked clear for a corner by a covering defender.
So, on a disappointing afternoon for the Silkmen, Newtown replaced us in second place in the table, although we will have an opportunity to retake this position on Tuesday night when we entertain Caernarfon Town in our rearranged fixture (7-45pm kick off).
Line Ups :
Newtown – D. Jones, B. Taylor, C. Roberts, G. Hughes, K. Mills-Evans, C. Williams (c), F. Mwandwe (H. Cowans 80), N. Rushton (N. Arsan 86), A. Williams, J. Evans (R. Edwards 87), J. Walker. Unused Subs – M. Williams (GK), S. Sutton. D. Downs, L. Thomas
Flint Town United – J. Rushton, D. Roberts (M. Cadwallader 64), S. Hart, B. Maher (c), B. Nash, K. Edwards, D. Harrison (R. Weaver 24), J. Phillips, M. Wilde, C. Harwood, C. Bratley (T. Weir 74). Unused Subs – M. Parker, O. Nugent, L. Ellis, J. Brindley
Flint MOM – Ben Nash (another solid performance from the central defender)
