Unlucky ninth for Newbury

First defeat of the season as Newbury are kept off the top by Penn and Tylers Green

AFTER eight straight league victories, Newbury tasted defeat at Faraday Road on Saturday when they went down 3-2 to a physical Penn and Tylers Green side that recovered from conceding a third minute penalty.

Manager Steve Melledew was without Jeff Kalejaiye and Dave Livings but his side got off to a good start when Craig Hill was brought down by goalkeeper Matt Cannings and Darren Jones scored from the penalty spot.

Hill headed just wide from a Barry Elmore corner and Ben Wickens and Kalief Madden might have stretched the lead before the visitors pulled level 10 minutes after the interval when a quick break sent Rino Sepede away to cutting inside and curl his shot past goalkeeper Jamie Thomas. And three minutes later Sepede set up Liam Ratcliffe to score from an angle and put the visitors ahead.

Penn struck again midway through the half when Aiden Taylor sent over a free kick for Dan Arnett to get the decisive touch, and although Jones notched his second form a free kick with 20 minutes to go, there was to be no leveller as Penn claimed top spot and Newbury slipped to third after their first league setback of the campaign.