A promising first outing

The line-up included the returning Ryan Stafford, Luke Hutchinson and Rick Brewer and they played a full part in a hard fought and thoroughly entertaining 1-1 draw. Dom Swingler gave Newark an 18th minute lead with a wonder strike from long range which flew into the top corner, before Clifton deservedly equalised just before half time, as Rob Gill expertly slotted his shot over keeper Ed Munton. There were plenty of encouraging performances, Stafford slotting seamlessly alongside Luke Parsons in the heart of the defence while newcomers Rafail Tsartsaris and 17-year-old Max King both caught the eye.