ABERYSTWYTH Town ended their season with a heavy defeat at Latham Park as a Nick Rushton hat-trick sent Newtown into the Europa League play-offs in top form with a 6-1 win.

On a difficult evening, youngster Sion Ewart rescued just a modicom of pride for the Seasiders with his 88th minute consolation reply goal.

On a pleasant spring evening, Aber started well, with Jack Rimmer coming within inches of setting up Luke Borrelli, only for home keeper Dave Jones to intercept well.

Jon Owen then played a one-two with Rimmer before earning a corner with a deflected effort, and although Neil Mitchell and an acrobatic Rushton sent efforts just over, Aber showed some nice touches.

In a seven minute spell, however, the game was lost for the Seasiders.

First Boundford sent on a cross from the right wing which the unmarked Rushton headed home on 19 minutes, and then flying full back Neil Mitchell’s through ball found Steff Edwards, who overlapped down the left and slotted the second goal four minutes later.

Worse was to follow on 26 minutes as Luke Boundford’s flick on seemed easy for Ryan Wollacott to deal with, but the Aber defender made a mistake and Ryan Kershaw took full advantage to fire the ball under goalkeeper Chris Mullock.

Rushton curled a shot over from a corner, but then John Owen drew a save from Jones with a curling shot.

Malcolm Melvin also fired over as Aber strove to get back into the game, but Newtown kept coming with Rushton drawing a save, and also heading over from a corner.

The last chance of the half saw Luke Borrelli almost score with a deflected long range effort, but Jones was again on hand to save.

After the interval Cledan Davies sent a great crossfield ball to Dan Alfei, whose centre from the right side found Borrelli at the back post, but Jones made a point blank save.

Sam Rodon then hit the crossbar with a header from a corner, Davies’ cross fell onto the roof of the net and Geoff Kellaway burst through only to be denied again by Jones.

On 52 minutes, however, Jamie Price’s volley cannoned off the bar and fell invitingly for Boundford to head home Newtown’s fourth goal.

Mark Jones on came on up front for Aber and made his presence felt, but the hosts were still threatening.

Rushton fired wide, before the livewire ran right through the defence to claim Newtown’s fifth goal with a quarter of the game to go.

In the last 10 minutes Newtown’s top scorer Jason Oswell, on as a sub, headed back across goal for Rushton to head home his third goal.

Aber’s Owen tested Jones, and then with two minutes to go he sent in a cute left wing cross which 18 year old sub Sion Ewart headed home emphatically at the back post.

Daf Jones also sent a volley over with the last attack of the game.

The defeat meant that Aberystwyth completed a rather underwhelming 2016/7 in 10th place in the Dafabet Welsh Premier League, with a meagre total of 34 points.

NEWTOWN: D Jones, C Williams (J Wells 73), S Edwards, K Mills-Evans, S Sutton, A Fletcher, J Price, N Rushton, L Boundford, N Mitchell (W Evans 83), R Kershaw (J Oswell 70). Subs not used: G Cadwallader, J Perry (gk), J Jones.

ABERYSTWYTH: C Mullock, C Davies, S Rodon, G Kellaway (M Jones 61), L Sherbon (S Ewart 73), J Owen, L Borrelli, R Wollacott, J Rimmer (D Jones 61’), M Melvin, D Alfe. Subs not used: J Crowl, D Hopton. Att: 327. Ref: M Petch