Armthorpe Welfare 1 – 3 Newark Town

Armthorpe Welfare 1 – 3 Newark Town
Another win against higher league opposition, this one the more creditable as the Blues had only 13 players available due to the Bank Holiday and one or two minor knocks. In Town’s first pre-season match with spectators allowed Danny Boulton and Kieran Job appeared for the first time this season with Rhys Lewis partnering Dom Sibilski at the heart of the defence
In conditions more suited to November Newark got off to the worst possible start, conceding a goal in the 2nd minute as a wind-assisted corner on the right was headed home at the far post by Adam Lee. Two minutes later a swirling shot from the home side’s Chris Simpkins hit the post but Town were level in the 7th minute as Josh Dodd challenged Jonny Wiles for the ball only to see it roll into his own net past the stranded Richard Watson, who was then forced into a diving save by Boulton. An individual goal of the highest quality put the Blues in front with just 16 minutes on the clock, Lewis Chambers beating Harry Brown to the ball before racing half the length of the pitch and coolly slotting the ball past Watson. The already depleted Town side was reduced further two minutes later as Boulton was fouled and after receiving treatment limped from the pitch, being replaced by Lewis Cook. Armthorpe struck the woodwork for a second time, Lee seeing his lofted shot hit the face of the bar before Paul Sherburn shot wide when scoring looked to be the easier option. Mark Faflik then combined well with Chambers, whose angled drive was fingertipped inches past the post by the diving Watson.
The early stages of the second half saw little in the way of chances at either end, the match punctuated by several stoppages for minor injuries. Town’s workrate was impressive as they hustled Armthorpe into mistakes, Nathan Burrows backing up a tight defence as sweeper, as any threat from the home forwards was speedily dealt with. Chambers again went close, first bringing a flying save from Watson before attempting a bicycle kick which was only just wide. Sibilski was next to threaten, a weaving run taking him past three defenders before seeing his shot deflected for a corner. Town sealed the win in the 82nd minute as Wiles burst through from what appeared to be a suspiciously offside position, before being brought down in the area by Watson, the referee playing the advantage which allowed Chambers to roll the ball into the unguarded net. A final piece of action saw Tom Moore run fully 50 yards, surviving two clumsy attempts to bring him down before shooting past the post, the referee subsequently booking both Armthorpe players.
Assistant manager Lee Esam was delighted with the performance. “We were limited in our choice of players this afternoon due to the holiday weekend and several players being rested but I felt the spirit in the side today was fantastic. We stuck to our game plan despite going behind so early. We told the lads at half time just to go out and play their own game. The players looked physically and mentally fit and I was really pleased with the result.
Richard Lane