ABERYSTWYTH continued their excellent away form since October with a clean sheet and a hard fought goalless draw in their Boxing Day derby at Newtown, who had won their last three games.

Alex Fletcher hit the crossbar with a free kick for the home team, while Paulo Mendes went closest for the Seasiders on a day when both defences were on top.

In wet conditions, the hosts had gone close early on through George Harry, who was denied by keeper Connor Roberts, and Lifumpwa Mwandwe, who headed Joe Kenton’s cross over the bar.

Aber settled and Mathew Jones’ testing cross was palmed away by Dave Jones, and his subsequent beautifully flighted free kick was deflected back to the keeper.

The hosts benefited from another kind deflection to take the sting out of Tom Price’s dangerous right wing cross, then Joe Phillips played a nice trick on Kenton, before surging goalbound and bringing another save by Jones with a low volley.

Jones also denied Luke Boundford, but at the other end Harry brought an acrobatic save from Roberts, before Mwandwe’s effort was brilliantly blocked on the line, and Kenton’s shot was saved.

Back came the visitors with Marc Williams controlling Boundford’s ball in, only for Mattie Jones to fire wide of goal. Jones delivered for Boundford to head wide, and with the chances coming thick and fast Edmilson Vaz fired wide twice in quick succession for the Seasiders.

Niall Flint went close for Newtown, but with Stuart Jones and Lee Jenkins strong in the air for the Black and Greens, a goalless score at the break was no surprise.

Home captain Kieran Mills-Evans fired over for Newtown early in the second half, whilst Phillips got a shot in for Aber, and then Matthew Jones’ corner was punched clear to Mendes, whose ball back in was volleyed over by Jenkins.

The Robins went on to dominate possession and chances for long periods of the last half hour, with Mwandwe denied by Roberts again from close range, and the very impressive Fletcher seeing his dangerous free kick just evade everyone.

Mathew Jones’ cross was then met by Mendes, but his goalbound header was cleared for a corner, and with the rain coming down, Newtown stepped up.

Fletcher came closest when he hit the crossbar with an excellent free kick from 30 yards out, whilst Flint and Kenton had shots blocked, and Fletcher fired over.

Aberystwyth sub Alex Boss set up Williams on the break, but his flick was saved, but then down the other end Harry blasted wide from a good position.

Mathew Jones’ cross was cleared off Newtown’s line, but Jack Kelly’s injury time effort for Newtown was deflected wide, and Aber held on for the draw.

NEWTOWN: D Jones, S McAllister, K Mills-Evans, N Mitchell, G Harry, J Kenton, J Thorn, L Mwandwe, N Flint, A Fletcher, J Kelly. Substitutes: K Steventon (gk), D Lewis, R Morris, C Williams, J Brownfield, S Barnes.

ABERYSTWYTH: C Roberts, R Edwards, P Mendes, M Williams, L Boundford (A Boss 75’), E Vaz, L Jenkins, S Jones, M Jones, T Price, J Phillips (G Kellaway 60’). Subs not used: A Pennock (gk), R Ricketts. Att: 293.