ABERYSTWYTH Town striker Craig Hobson netted a second half brace as Nev Powell’s men ran out comfortable 3-0 victors in their crucial mid Wales derby against Newtown at Park Avenue.

Needing to win to move back level on points with the Robins, Aber had opened the scoring on 30 minutes when John McKenna prodded in Matthew Jones’ header across goal.

Hobson crucially headed in Ryan Wade’s cross on 52 minutes to double the lead, and the former Stockport and Chester striker then converted Joe Phillips’ excellent pass to make it 3-0 on 72 minutes.

In a tense derby battle, both sides had struggled to get an early foothold in the game, with neither able to create clear-cut chances throughout the opening stages.

The Seasiders were dealt a blow on 13 minutes when captain Jonny Spittle was forced off with a groin injury, with youngster Jack Rimmer coming on as his replacement.

Declan Walker came close with a header in a scrappy first 20 minutes, and James Murphy went close for the Robins, when his shot from a knock down off a Luke Boundford long throw was deflected wide.

With both sides forced into shots from distance, Walker lashed wide and Craig Williams fired high into the stand, before the first real chance produced a goal for Aber.

The breakthrough arrived on 30 minutes when Ashley Young sent a corner kick towards the back post, where Matthew Jones rose highest to head back across goal, for John McKenna to prod the ball home.

McKenna almost doubled his tally when he dragged Jones’ brilliant cross narrowly wide of goal, but Newtown searched for a way back into the game, and on 38 minutes Nick Rushton saw his header comfortably saved by Chrs Mullock.

Kieran Mills-Evans also headed over from a corner for the Robins, but as the half-time whistle approached, and the hail came down, Aber’s midfield maestro Malcolm Melvin drove forward, but saw his shot go narrowly over the bar.

As the sleet and hail eased up, the second half started in much brighter fashion, with Geoff Kellaway making a welcome return as a substitute for the injured Jack Rimmer.

Ryan Kershaw drew a smart save from Mullock, but on 52 minutes Aber doubled their lead with their first meaningful attack of the half.

Ryan Wade brought the ball down brilliantly on the right flank, before turning his marker inside-out and sending a delightful cross to the back post, where Craig Hobson was on hand to hammer home a powerful header and make it 2-0.

Aber had momentum as McKenna forced keeper Dave Jones to save his downwards header, and Walker headed the corner wide.

In a final throw of the dice, Newtown manager Chris Hughes then introduced Tom Goodwin and ex-Aber striker Jamie Reed with just over half an hour remaining, but the Seasiders defended resolutely.

Reed volleyed wide shortly after coming on, but on 72 minutes, Aber put the game to bed as Joe Phillips went on a weaving run down the left and put in a great delivery for Hobson to score at the front post.

Rather than sit back and defend their lead, Aber continued to attack and Ryan Wade went close to getting the goal his performance deserved, as he fired a shot just over.

Hobson almost grabbed his hat-trick as he swivelled and shot into the side-netting, and Wade again went close on 88 minutes as he pounced on an error by Ryan Sears and rounded the goalkeeper, only for the angle to become too tight.

ABERYSTWYTH: C Mullock, D Walker, J Spittle (J Rimmer 13, G Kellaway 46 minutes), R Wollacott, M Melvin, C Hobson, R Wade, M Jones, A Young, J McKenna, J Phillips (H Horwood 89). Substitute not used: L Jenkins.

NEWTOWN: D Jones, C Williams, K Mills-Evans, R Sears, J Harries, N Mitchell, J Murphy (R Kershaw 46’), J Denny, J Kenton (T Goodwin 57’), N Rushton (J Reed 57’), L Boundford. Subs: J Perry, I Cartwright, W Evans.

Attendance: 353. Referee: H Jones.