IN a proverbial game of two halves, Airbus sparkled in the first 45 minutes, but proved to be damp squibs after the break as they went down to a 2-0 home defeat at the hands of fellow strugglers Newtown.
The Wingmakers dominated the first 45 minutes but had nothing to show for their efforts at the break, due to a combination of some poor finishing and stubborn resistance from the Robins.
Visiting keeper Dave Jones did well to hold a fierce Ryan Fraughan drive in the opening stanza before the midfielder producing a dazzling run from just inside the visitors' half, beating several opponents before side-footing agonisingly wide of the far post.
Tony Gray volleyed over the bar from inside the box before beating Jones from close range only for Jamie Price to hook the ball off the line to safety.
Ryan Wignall sliced a shot and, on the stroke of half-time, Gray hit a stunning long range drive into the side netting.
But it was the Robins who came out with intent after the break with Tom Goodwin firing a shot against the crossbar and keeper Ryan Neild doing well to tip a Kieran Mills-Evans header over his goal.
Neil Mitchell had a chance to hand Newtown the lead but headed straight at Neild from a Price cross before Luke Boundford also tested the home keeper.
The opening goal on 65 minutes was a touch fortuitous as Ross Stephens struck the woodwork with a corner but, in the ensuing goalmouth scramble, Mitchell volleyed into the bottom corner.
Gray responded with a shot and Fraughan fired over the target before the outcome was sealed six minutes from time. Paul Connolly brought down Mitchell in the box and Stephens sent Neild the wrong way from the penalty spot to leave Airbus next-bottom, just a point ahead of their opponents.
Photo: Ryan Fraughan beats Shane Sutton and Kieran Mills-Evans but sent his shot wide.
