BALA Town returned from Latham Park empty-handed as Nick Rushton scored twice on his return to the Newtown squad, to earn the Robins a 2-0 win.

The striker was back in the side after a two week absence, and he got his first midway through the first half, when latching onto a flick on from Joe Kenton and springing the offside trap to slot home.

His second came six minutes after the restart, again racing onto a through ball from Steve Leslie, to secure Newtown’s first home win over Bala in five years.

On a sun soaked day at Latham Park it was the visitors who were quicker out of the traps, with a cluster of early chances.

Anthony Miley glanced a free kick wide, before Henry Jones’ free kick sailed just over Dave Jones’ crossbar. Kieran Smith also fired over, but his afternoon was cut short soon after through a hamstring injury, and was replaced by Ian Sheridan.

At the other end, Leslie’s quality free kick to the back post was inches away from finding the unmarked Ben Bailey. But then on 22 minutes, Kenton played a neat flick for Rushton who beat the offside trap and slotted home past Ashley Morris.

It was almost two soon after as a long Dave Jones kick was misjudged by Miley, who flicked it into the path of Kenton, but Ashley Morris was out to smother the ball.

Leslie had a free kick well saved, but at the other end Bala went close as Jones had a free kick saved, Sheridan fired wide and Kieran Mills-Evans threw his body in front of a Mike Hayes effort from 12 yards.

Bala fired out of the traps in the second period, with Nathan Burke stinging Jones’ palms, but within six minutes of the restart the Robins were two goals ahead. Leslie won possession in the middle of the field, and a quality through ball found Rushton, who coolly fired past Morris.

Back came Bala, with Jones getting down low to deny a Burke effort, and Miley flashing a volley wide from the resulting corner, but Newtown also had chances as Alex Fletcher hit the side-netting, Neil Mitchell fired at a defender and Rushton chipped Morris, but his effort hit the post.

NEWTOWN: 1. Dave Jones, 24. Jake Cook, 3. Callum Roberts, 4. Ben Bailey, 5. Kieran Mills-Evans, 6. Jay Denny, 7. Neil Mitchell, 23. Alex Fletcher (17. Sam Phillips 90’), 10. Steve Leslie (20. Tom Goodwin 72’), 8. Nick Rushton, 11. Joe Kenton (14. Ethan Jones 83’). Subs not used: 15. Jolyon Harries, 25. Will Evans, 13. Jack Perry (gk).

BALA TOWN: 1. Ashley Morris, 2. Andrew Burns, 3. Sean Smith, 4. Stuart Jones, 6. Anthony Miley, 17. Danny Gosset, 8. Nathan Burke, 7. Steven Tames, 77. Henry Jones, 11. Kieran Smith (10. Ian Sheridan 13’), 9. Mike Hayes (12. Evan Horwood 61’). Subs not used: 5. Stuart J Jones, 15. Rob Pearson, 20. Joe Edwards, 23. Vaughn Charles (gk). Attendance: 236. Referee: Tom Owen.