Newark’s pre-season ended with defeat, but they can take consolation from an encouraging performance as they went down 3-2 at East Midlands Counties side Holwell Sports. The starting line-up resembled something closer to the Blues’ strongest eleven, with only three survivors from the weekend’s mauling at Harrowby.
A brilliant cross from Alex Hales nearly gave Newark the lead after five minutes, but Calum Fraser’s glancing header flew just wide of the post.
In a very open match, Holwell opened the scoring in the tenth minute as a long range strike from Graham Keast squeezed into the bottom corner. The Blues refused to lie down though, and should have equalised as Ben Porter twice had efforts blocked on the line from close range. He couldn’t force the ball in and the defence somehow cleared.
Porter made amends not long after; finding himself on the end of a drifting Jamie Brooks cross to easily nod Newark level in the 24th minute. Calum Fraser gave Town a deserved lead going into the break, pouncing on the loose ball before running clear of the defence and slotting the ball confidently into the corner.
With substitutions and a change of formation at half time, Newark seemed less stable than they had been, and failed to put Holwell under a great deal of pressure. Kieran Foster grabbed a brace for the home side with two close range finishes after finding himself unmarked on both occasions, the second coming after a debatable free kick awarded for a back pass. The home side also hit the bar twice from set pieces.
Newark didn’t allow their heads to drop, and came close to levelling when Porter latched onto a lucky deflection before shooting inches wide with his first time effort. Sam Bagworth also went close with a drive from long range with virtually the last kick of the game. However, there were plenty of positives to take from the match, as Newark prepare for their first league match of the season at home to Sherwood Colliery on Saturday.