Phoenix fail to rise.

Manager Tony Joynes was able to field a strong starting line-up despite an injury in the warm up to Daryl Price, and they were soon on the front foot against their Rotherham-based opponents. But for the Phoenix goalkeeper, the Blues would have taken an early lead, as Dom Swingler, Calum Fraser and Sam Wilford all had close range efforts saved by the impressive Matt Herschell Smith. Fraser eventually gave Newark a deserved lead in the 20th minute, as he latched onto a long ball from Luke Hutchinson, before muscling past the defence and flicking a shot past the keeper into the corner. With Phoenix opting to play with three in defence, there was plenty of space on either flank for Newark to exploit, and they continued to cut their opponents defence open at will. Swingler had a shot saved onto the bar while Fraser had a header well held, before Reece Self added a second in the 35th minute with a cool side-footed finish into the corner. Arron Martin, whose pace and skill caused problems for the defence on numerous occasions, gave Newark an opportunity to score their third minutes later, as he was hacked down in the area. Luke Parsons stepped up and sent Herschell Smith the wrong way. Hutchinson scored Newark’s fourth moments before the break, as he headed Martin’s cross firmly into the bottom corner while totally unmarked.
Phoenix squandered their best chance of the game moments after half time, as Scott McKenna placed his effort wide after being left all alone in the centre of the penalty area. Normal service was resumed soon after though, as Newark continued to lay siege to the Phoenix defence. Swingler put in an impressive performance up front, but missed a golden opportunity to contribute a goal of his own as he spooned a shot over from close range. Parsons scored his second of the game in the 56th minute as he headed in powerfully from a corner, before Ian Hillier added a sixth not long after, tapping in following some good work from Fraser. Substitute Jamie Brooks continued the rout, clipping his shot past the keeper as Phoenix struggled to contain the Blues. Martin got a deserved goal of his own after tapping in a Swingler cross from the left, before McKenna was unfortunate to convert into his own net after trying to cut out a Hutchinson cross.
This was an opening day performance for Tony Joynes to savour. “It was obviously a fantastic start to the season. We’ve had a good pre-season and come into the campaign relatively fit. We looked comfortable at the back and sharp up front, and although they didn’t offer much resilience you can only beat what’s put in front of you. Often the game can peter out once you get a good lead, but it’s a testament to the players that they kept going. We didn’t just beat them today, we played them off the park,” he said.