The Blues reached the second round of the Notts FA Senior Cup for the first time in three seasons with a not entirely comfortable win over Notts Senior League side FC Cavaliers. Two goals from sub Joe Brumpton and one from defender turned striker Aaran Needham proved enough to set Town up with a visit to Clifton or Ollerton in the next round.
Newark had the upper hand in the early stages and took a 7th minute lead when a right wing corner was met with a firm header from Aaran Needham, his first goal at this level. Needham came close to doubling the lead minutes later, Vlad Dadu winning the ball and finding Fraser Hallam, whose cross was met by Needham, the shot clipping the bar. Both sides exploited the space, Cavaliers forwards showing a turn of pace on the break which tested Town’s defensive capabilities to the full. Newark suffered a severe blow on 23 minutes as Richard Dadu was forced off with an ankle injury, Aaran Needham replacing him at the heart of the defence with Joe Brumpton taking on the striker’s role. Sam Wilford was next to threaten, sending a 20 yard effort just too high before a Danny Purves corner produced an overhead flick from Hallam which looped past the angle of post and bar. With the defence coping well with the threat from the visitors, Newark gave themselves a cushion in added time at the end of the first half. A quick free kick by Purves was slipped through the defence, Brumpton the first to react as he slipped the ball under keeper Sajid Saeed.
Any hopes that the Blues could build on their lead were dashed in the opening minute of the second half. Early pressure saw Liam Needham block a shot from Kamar Davis with his feet, the follow up deflecting off Andrew Smith over the bar. From the resulting corner the ball found its way to the far post where Mustapha John slid the ball home via the post. Newark needed a response and it came again from a Purves free kick in the 53rd minute which was headed across the area by Hallam for Brumpton to sweep the ball into the corner of the net. Wilford almost made the game safe shortly afterwards as his 30 yard strike was touched over the bar by Saeed, Hallam heading the corner a foot wide. Town appeared comfortable with their lead, Michael Minty shooting straight at the keeper when well placed. As play switched to the other end, Cavaliers began to exert pressure and reduced the arrears on 79 minutes, Mustapha John running the ball home to score his second. A nervous last ten minutes saw the visitors going close on a couple of occasion, Liam Needham saving the day with a well-timed block on Mohamed Babikker as he bore down on goal before the final whistle confirmed Town’s progress.