Newton created the first opening after just three minutes when Jordan Dunne crossed from the right for Ethan Appleby, but his effort from inside the box went wide.

FC St Helens then had a couple of chances of their own, including an opportunity after Ollie Foy’s attempted clearance went straight to an opposition player, although the resulting lob went wide.

The visitors took the lead on 16 minutes. Foy’s kick out of his hands fell straight to an FC St Helens player and, after the ball was worked forward, the attacker made his way into the box before finishing past the Newton goalkeeper.

Newton continued to push for an equaliser. Alex Peplow delivered a good cross for Appleby, whose header went wide, before a flowing move involving Kristian Rapson, Dunne and Percival created another opening. Appleby’s shot was saved at the goalkeeper’s feet before Kaine Mulligan saw the follow-up blocked.

The pressure paid off on 32 minutes. Ricky Fahey produced an excellent ball into the box for Percival, whose header beat the goalkeeper but struck the crossbar. Percival reacted quickest to the rebound and finished to bring Newton level.

The sides went into the break at 1–1, and Newton started the second half looking to build on the equaliser.

Appleby found Percival inside the area on 56 minutes, with his placed effort beating the goalkeeper but lacking the power to prevent a defender clearing it away. Moments later, Nathan Wright laid the ball off for Dunne, whose shot went wide.

FC St Helens regained the lead on 63 minutes. The ball was worked into the left side of the box and, although the resulting effort was not the cleanest, it had enough to beat the advancing Foy.

Five minutes later the visitors extended their advantage. A cross-field pass broke through the Newton defensive line and released the right winger, who lifted a composed finish over Foy to make it 3–1.

Newton continued to search for a way back into the contest. Foy produced a good save from a well-struck FC St Helens free-kick before Rapson tested the visiting goalkeeper from a set-piece at the other end.

Percival had another opportunity on 79 minutes when he found himself in possession inside the box and tried to place his effort to the goalkeeper’s left, but the keeper read it well and made the save.

That proved to be Newton’s final opportunity as FC St Helens saw out the remaining minutes to take the points.

Newton had created chances to stay in the contest, but mistakes at one end and a clinical second-half spell from the visitors ultimately proved decisive.