Newtown secured their top-six place in the JD Welsh Premier League with two games to spare following a hard-fought 2-1 win over Aberystwyth in the mid-Wales derby.

The result also ensures Bala Town of place in the Championship Conference, whilst Aberystwyth and Caernarfon Town will contest the last remaining place before the league split.

Having now lost their last four games, Aberystwyth (played 20, 27 points) sit in seventh-spot and trail sixth-placed Caernarfon (played 19, 27 points) on goal difference.

The Robins quickly picked up from where they left off on Boxing Day, in which they ran out 2-0 winners in the reverse fixture, taking a second minute lead after Neil Mitchell headed home Callum Roberts’ cross.

Minutes after Porya Ahmadi struck against the woodwork for the visitors, Nicky Rushton doubled Newtown’s lead with his tenth WPL goal of the season, firing low past McCormick.

Ahmadi made amends for his earlier miss and pulled a goal back for Aberystwyth with a late chipped finish to set up a tense finale, with Paulo Mendes having claims for a penalty denied in added time.

“I thought Aber played very well and put us under pressure and we had to survive that. We were really clinical today and took our chances,” said Newtown manager Chris Hughes after successfully steering the club into a top-six spot for the fourth time in his six seasons at Latham Park.

“It was a hard fought win today but it was excellent and I’m delighted and I’m pleased for everyone at the football club, from the directors, the supporters, the players, the staff.

“In the six years I’ve been with the football club, that’s the fourth top-six finish we’ve achieved and we’ve been in the play-offs in five of those six seasons, so I think overall this football club has overachieved, and who’s to say what will happen? One thing about this football club, is that we’ve got spirit, we’ve got hard work and we’ve got good players as well.”

“We probably need a couple of faces to strengthen in the window to help the boys out, but I’m delighted,” he added.

Newtown AFC 2 Neil Mitchell 2′ Nick Rushton 60′
Aberystwyth Town 1 Porya Ahmadi 90′

Newtown AFC
1. Dave Jones, 3. Callum Roberts, 5. Kieran Mills-Evans, 6. Jay Denny, 7. Neil Mitchell, 8. Nick Rushton, 9. Luke Boundford (14. Ethan Jones 88′), 10. Steve Leslie, 11. Joe Kenton, 17. Sam Phillips (19. T.Craig Williams 60′), 23. Alex Fletcher Subs not used: 13. Jack Perry (gk), 16. Gavin Cadwallader, 25. Will Evans

Red Cards: None
Yellow Cards: Mills-Evans 90′

Aberystwyth Town
1. Terry McCormick, 2. Wes Baynes, 3. Stefan Edwards, 4. Alan Goodall, 5. Ryan Wollacott, 7. Geoff Kellaway (27. Joe Phillips 82′), 8. Paolo Mendes, 9. Porya Ahmadi, 10. Declan Walker, 14. Ryan Edwards (24. Ashley Ruane 71′), 17. Matthew Jones Subs not used: 6. Jack Rimmer, 15. Lee Jenkins, 18. Nashawn Blake, 20. Harri Rowe

Red Cards: None
Yellow Cards: Wollacott 90′ Baynes 90′

Attendance: 484 Referee: Cheryl Foster