Last gasp goal dumps Blues out of cup.

A mixture of injuries, a suspension and the logistics of having to set off at 10.30 am for a 170 mile round trip meant that Newark travelled with a threadbare squad which included two players making their full senior debuts. Stefan Bilyk and Jake Reynolds were pressed into service as wing backs with Damian Lloyd in an unfamiliar defensive role in which he did an excellent job.
On a mild but breezy afternoon Town started brightly, Jordan Thomas combining with Reynolds but shooting at keeper Charlie Holden and Calum Fraser having the ball in the net but being ruled offside. A moment of class from Luke Hutchinson saw him bring down a Dom Swingler cross, swivel and volley narrowly too high while at the other end Ryan Stafford got in a solid block to stop Adam Jamieson as he bore down on goal. Despite having the lion’s share of the early chances, Town couldn’t turn possession into goals, the wind making it difficult to judge crosses with accuracy. The industrious Sam Wilford, on his 250th appearance for the Blues again stopped Jamieson in his tracks, before Newark missed a golden chance to take the lead on 34 minutes. Reynolds made space on the left and played a tempting ball to the far post where Fraser failed to connect with what looked like a simple tap-in. Easington managed to do the same minutes later, both Chris Frost and Paul Wilkinson missing Anthony Barnett’s cross. Fraser had another chance as Hutchinson played the ball in but his touch wasn’t firm enough to find the net. On the stroke of half time Thomas did find the net but his effort was again ruled out by what appeared a debatable offside flag.
With the breeze now against the Blues, play was more even in the early stages of the second half, though Bilyk and Reece Self both had long range efforts which showed promise. A spell of more concerted pressure saw crosses played in from both sides, most of which were confidently dealt with by the home defence. Easington had a let off in the 63rd minute, Wilford’s 25 yard drive coming back off the post with Holden well beaten. Holden was called into more action, collecting a Reynolds shot under pressure then fingertipping a Thomas header over the bar. There was still no end result, however, as a confident penalty shout was turned down and a Hutchinson free kick curled wide of the post. In the third minute of added time, Easington forced a right side corner and the inevitable happened as Danny Barron’s kick reached the far edge of the area where Stefan Hewitt headed the ball across Craig Rhodes, the linesman indicating the ball had crossed the line. There was barely time to restart the game, and the disappointment in the manner of defeat was obvious. Town have now gone out of two cup competitions after struggling to put a team together, and now have only the Floodlit Cup to come.