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Sat 07 Dec 2013
First TeamLinby Colliery
C Dobbie (32'), D Swingler (87')
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Town's cup hopes going, going, gone.
Richard Lane8 Dec 2013 - 21:26
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Newark Town’s last chance of silverware disappeared on Saturday going down to a Linby side whose performance belied their lowly league position.
Town gave a debut to Tom Bryan whose powerful display in the middle of the defence provided one of the few high points for the Blues.
Tom Mallinson came close to giving Newark an early advantage, latching on to a long ball from Arron Martin, but seeing his diagonal shot narrowly beat the left hand post. Chris Riley dived bravely at the feet of Joe Butler, but was beaten by the same player on 11 minutes. A Damian Mann free kick was planted into the area, Butler knocking the ball in from close range amid strong shouts for a handling offence which were overruled by referee Forder. Danny Lee again went close before Chris Dobbie slipped the ball to the overlapping Martin, but his cross was blazed over the bar by JC McDonald. Linby keeper Rhys Watkinson tipped an Alex Hales free kick over the bar and as play switched to the other end, Riley got in a solid block to deny Mann as he wriggled past two defenders. Newark drew level on 32 minutes, a beautifully judged ball over the top from Martin allowing Dobbie to sidestep the keeper and finish with ease. Any hopes of improving on this were shattered three minutes later, as Butler ran through a square defence to score his second, Riley being left hopelessly exposed. There were still signs that Town could turn it round however, Bryan’s immense clearing headers quickly turning defence into attack on several occasions.
Linby resumed on the attack, Riley again doing well to turn a shot from Mason Frizelle round the post. The resulting corner proved hard to clear however, Reece Self heading off the line and Frizelle crashing the loose ball against the bar before, almost inevitably, Matt Murphy lashed the ball home through the crowded goal mouth on 51 minutes. Newark brought on Danny Purves and Dom Swingler to replace Lee and James Munson, and began to create some goal-worthy moves, Luke Parsons just failing to find Dobbie, before McDonald and Purves combined to bring out a dive from Watkinson as Swingler closed in. After Martin and Dobbie had seen shots blocked Swingler had the ball in the net only to be denied by the intervention of the linesman. Sam Bagworth then crossed from the right, but Bryan’s goalbound header was cleared off the line by James Fox. With Linby’s defence now under some strain, Martin turned his marker, but fired wide with only Watkinson to beat. The pressure finally paid dividends in the 87th minute as Newark’s three substitutes combined. Bagworth played the ball out to Purves on the left and his low cross was finished off by Swingler. This turned out to be too little too late, and the Blues duly fell at the first hurdle for the third time in cup competitions this season, which leaves only a respectable league position to play for.
Tom Mallinson came close to giving Newark an early advantage, latching on to a long ball from Arron Martin, but seeing his diagonal shot narrowly beat the left hand post. Chris Riley dived bravely at the feet of Joe Butler, but was beaten by the same player on 11 minutes. A Damian Mann free kick was planted into the area, Butler knocking the ball in from close range amid strong shouts for a handling offence which were overruled by referee Forder. Danny Lee again went close before Chris Dobbie slipped the ball to the overlapping Martin, but his cross was blazed over the bar by JC McDonald. Linby keeper Rhys Watkinson tipped an Alex Hales free kick over the bar and as play switched to the other end, Riley got in a solid block to deny Mann as he wriggled past two defenders. Newark drew level on 32 minutes, a beautifully judged ball over the top from Martin allowing Dobbie to sidestep the keeper and finish with ease. Any hopes of improving on this were shattered three minutes later, as Butler ran through a square defence to score his second, Riley being left hopelessly exposed. There were still signs that Town could turn it round however, Bryan’s immense clearing headers quickly turning defence into attack on several occasions.
Linby resumed on the attack, Riley again doing well to turn a shot from Mason Frizelle round the post. The resulting corner proved hard to clear however, Reece Self heading off the line and Frizelle crashing the loose ball against the bar before, almost inevitably, Matt Murphy lashed the ball home through the crowded goal mouth on 51 minutes. Newark brought on Danny Purves and Dom Swingler to replace Lee and James Munson, and began to create some goal-worthy moves, Luke Parsons just failing to find Dobbie, before McDonald and Purves combined to bring out a dive from Watkinson as Swingler closed in. After Martin and Dobbie had seen shots blocked Swingler had the ball in the net only to be denied by the intervention of the linesman. Sam Bagworth then crossed from the right, but Bryan’s goalbound header was cleared off the line by James Fox. With Linby’s defence now under some strain, Martin turned his marker, but fired wide with only Watkinson to beat. The pressure finally paid dividends in the 87th minute as Newark’s three substitutes combined. Bagworth played the ball out to Purves on the left and his low cross was finished off by Swingler. This turned out to be too little too late, and the Blues duly fell at the first hurdle for the third time in cup competitions this season, which leaves only a respectable league position to play for.
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