Richard Dent returned to the side in the middle of the defence, with Craig Rhodes between the posts, otherwise the Blues fielded an unchanged squad from the previous Saturday.

Keelan Pollard tested the home keeper in the second minute, Gasperowicz beating away his shot from 25 yards. Newark had the better of the early exchanges, Rikki Peterson latching on to a long ball but shooting wide. Newark almost fell behind in controversial circumstances when the referee allowed a free kick just outside the area to be taken quickly without informing anyone, the ball passing a foot past the right hand post with Rhodes organising the wall on the other side of the goal. Following a succession of corners Town came close to opening their account on 38 minutes, Pollard putting Peterson through but although he beat the onrushing keeper the ball ran agonisingly past the post. Two minutes later the Blues were in front, Gasperowicz came out of his area to chest down a lofted back pass, the ball bouncing to Thomas Johnson who had the simple task of rolling the ball into the unguarded net. Town doubled their lead on 43 minutes, a ball from the left reaching Peterson who slid the ball home. Rhodes was then brought into action at the other end, doing well to block a shot from Kirk with his legs.

Brodsworth made what turned out to be two significant substitutions at the break, moving two defenders to the front line. The first chance, however, fell to the visitors, as a misplaced backpass by Taylor was hacked away at the last minute. The home side posted a warning a minute later, Gorrill fastening on to an incisive ball from Carver but firing wide from a good position. Brodsworth got back into the game on the hour, Carver getting the better of Reece Carlisle and putting the ball past the oncoming Rhodes. Two minutes later the scores were level, Joe Stanley being unfortunate to see a clearance rebound off him to the far post where Gorrill headed home. The dynamics of the game had now changed completely, Town seeing the ball in the net again a minute later, but this time an offside flag had been raised. Two more goals in the space of a minute a quarter of an hour from the end capped what had now become a completely frustrating afternoon. First a pinpoint cross from Tomlinson was met with a firm header from the unmarked Gorrill, then Carver carved his way through the middle to put the game beyond Town. Carlisle saw a rasping shot narrowly clear the bar and sub John Pinnington had a shot deflected over but by this time the first half promise was only a faint memory

Richard Lane