Josh Pask scored a dramatic 99th-minute winner as The New Saints came from behind to triumph 2-1 over Newtown at Park Hall on Saturday.
The visitors headed into the game off the back of five consecutive defeats, but were gifted a shock lead less than two minutes into the match when Jason Oswell intercepted Harrison McGahey’s tame back pass to Connor Roberts and poked the ball home for his first goal since the start of October.
That remained the difference in the game until just after the hour mark, when TNS substitute Remi Oteh, who had only been on the pitch for six minutes, equalised from close range after Sion Bradley’s shot deflected into his path.
Bradley thought he had won the game in the 88th minute only for Newtown to scramble his effort off the line, but the Robins were left heartbroken deep into stoppage time when Pask headed home from Ryan Brobbel’s cross to steal victory for the league leaders.
The Saints remain just a point ahead of second-place Penybont, who earned a 1-0 home win over Connah’s Quay Nomads on Saturday.
The decisive moment at the SDM Glass Stadium came in the 58th minute as Keyon Reffell smartly turned home James Crole’s cross from close range.
Reffell should perhaps have scored again soon after as he blazed over the bar from Crole’s cut back, while the Nomads came agonisingly close to finding an equaliser in stoppage time when Declan Poole’s volley at the back post struck the crossbar.
Defeat for Billy Paynter’s side leaves them three points adrift of the top six, meaning they must beat Bala Town on the final matchday of Phase One next weekend and hope other results go their way if they are to qualify for the Championship Conference.
Haverfordwest County made it back-to-back wins back at Ogi Bridge Meadow as they came from behind to claim a 5-1 win over Briton Ferry Llansawel on Saturday.
Tom Walters’ dipping strike from distance outwitted Zac Jones to give Ferry the lead in the 40th minute, but Haverfordwest were back level just three minutes later as Greg Walters headed down Jacob Owen’s cross to set up Ben Ahmun to volley home his first goal since the start of November.
The Bluebirds then scored four goals in the space of 12 minutes early in the second half to wrap up victory – their biggest of the season – with little over an hour played.
Rhys Abbruzzese’s cross from the right sailed through everyone, including Ferry goalkeeper Will Fuller, to put Tony Pennock’s side ahead, while Owain Jones smashed a powerful finish into the roof of the net after a neat one-two with Ahmun.
Walters headed home a fourth goal after Lee Jenkins flicked on Abbruzzese’s corner, before Ahmun grabbed his second of the afternoon by rounding Fuller and tapping into an empty net.
Friday night’s clash between Bala Town and Caernarfon Town was postponed due to a frozen pitch at Maes Tegid. The game will now be played on Tuesday 7 January (19:45).
Weekend results in full:
Bala Town P-P Caernarfon Town
Haverfordwest County 5-1 Briton Ferry Llansawel
Penybont 1-0 Connah’s Quay Nomads
The New Saints 2-1 Newtown
