Prestatyn Town 1 Newtown 1
THIS Welsh Premier League Cup first round first leg tie ended all square in a game dominated by the wintry weather.
Jon Fisher Cooke headed Town into a 24th minute lead but Callum Wright's 62nd minute leveller kept the tie alive for the second leg at Latham Park on February 1.
In a game dominated by the strong wind this was the proverbial game of two halves - Town bossed the first while Newtown took the second, both sides getting equal help from the buffeting gales and squally rain.
There could have been more goals too - in the first period Ross Stephens saw a speculative 30 yarder almost catch Newtown keeper Nick Thomas off guard then
Stephens hit the woodwork and shortly before the break the Robins' Steve Blenkinsop just failed to connect with Gareth Partridge's cross then fired over the bar from a shot on the turn
In the second period the westerly gales picked up and made corners impossible, blowing three Newtown efforts into the crowd before they got anywhere near Jon Hill Dunt's goalmouth.
Before his goal, which saw him produce a strong run and clinical finish, Wright pinged a rising drive off the crossbar and with the visitors on top, Hill Dunt produced two quality saves to deny first Nick Rushton, palming his shot around the post to safety then tipping Jamie Price's goalbound effort to safety over the bar.
BLOB On Saturday (28) Town face arguably their biggest game of the season so far when they entertain Cefn Druids in the fourth round of the Welsh Cup (2.30pm).
The Seasiders have a good record in the competition in recent seasons having reached the semi-finals and the last eight twice and with guaranteed prize money of £6,000 on offer to the winners a place in the last eight will be high on the Seasiders' agenda.
If the scores are level at 90 minutes, extra time and penalties will settle the outcome.