By Matthew Burgess
Runaway leaders TNS were stunned by two-late goals when Newtown rallied back from 3-1 down to end the Saints’ record-breaking run, as they were denied a 28thconsecutive victory.
Newtown, who took the lead, trailed 2-1 at the break before a dramatic twist at Latham Park saw the Robins grab two goals inside the final ten-minutes as Nick Rushton and Jamie Price brought TNS’s incredible run to an end, forcing a 3-3 draw.
It means the world record for successive wins stands – and is halted – at 27 matches.
Carmarthen can now set their sights on qualifying for Europe through the end of season play-offs after a 0-0 draw secured their place in the league’s top-six on the final day of the first phase of the season.
The Old Gold required a point against Cefn Druids in their final game of Phase 1 to guarantee themselves a play-off place at the end of the season.
An evenly-matched contest between the two sides finished goalless at The Rock and the offer of a lucrative return to continental football is within reach according to the Carmarthen skipper Lee Surman.
“We’re not looking to finish sixth and settle on that, we want to push up and why not try and finish fourth?” he said following his man of the match performance.
“These [3G] surfaces play into our hands as we can zip it about – the boys in midfield are the best around for their work-rate and we can get into Europe, why not?”
Carmarthen started brightly looking to gain an early advantage but the hosts were able to settle well as the two sides eventually cancelled each other out in difficult conditions at Cefn Mawr.
Llandudno, who were also in top-six contention at the beginning of the day, could only draw at home to Rhyl, coming back twice to take a share of the points as Alan Morgan’s side miss out.
Second-placed Connah’s Quay kept their three-point lead intact over Bala Town, who remain third, with both teams in the hunt for automatic European qualification.
Aberystwyth’s woes continued with a 2-0 defeat at home to Cardiff Met.
Airbus remain bottom of the table, that is despite their shock win over fourth-placed Bangor City which ended a run of nine-straight league defeats for the Broughton-based team. Second-half substitute Liam O’Neill netted twice for the Wingmakers as they claimed a much-needed 4-2 win.
Results: Aberystwyth 0-2 Cardiff Met, Airbus UK 4-2 Bangor City, Bala Town 0-0 Connah’s Quay, Llandudno 2-2 Rhyl, Cefn Druids 0-0 Carmarthen, Newtown 3-3 TNS.