For the second time in three Saturdays, Town found themselves with less than 20 of the 50 registered players declaring themselves available, the result being the cancellation of the reserves County Cup tie and defeat at the hands of a team that they had put eight goals past just five weeks ago. With none of the regular centre backs available, Alex Hales made his first appearance of the season, partnering Ricki O’Connell and Luke Hutchinson in a back three.
Newark were first to threaten, Jordan Thomas sending in a low shot which almost caught the keeper napping, and Ian Hillier driving in a powerful 35 yarder which was tipped round the post. The Blues looked comfortable in the early stages with Ngoni Dongo and Dom Swingler combining well allowing Swingler’s snap shot to come back off the underside of the bar. Thomas then had a shot hacked off the line, but the early promise failed to result in a goal. Rather against the run of play Dinnington took a 32nd minute lead through Brad Parker, who profited from O’Connell’s mistake to hammer the ball past Craig Rhodes in the Town net. The lead was short lived however as four minutes later Daryl Price produced a beautiful lob over the keeper to level matters. Shortly afterwards more good work from Thomas on the left almost put Price through again, but keeper Jackson just got to the ball first. As half time approached Dinnington threatened again, Chris Kirk firing just too high and Parker sending in a dangerous free kick which somehow evaded both forwards and defenders.
Town were left to regret several close calls at the start of the second half, Max King and Price combined to set up Thomas, whose shot clipped the top of the bar. Price was then inches away from snatching the lead after Dongo burst through the home defence. On 70 minutes came the best chance of all as Price raced clear after a long ball from the back, but narrowly failed to get enough height on his chip, which Jackson just managed to parry. Another Price shot was deflected and Luke Hutchinson’s acrobatic effort sailed over, as Town racked up the chances, but on 80 minutes the inevitable happened as Dinnington profited from a free kick to the left of Town’s area. The ball was driven into a crowd of players and fell to Kyle Wesley who stabbed the ball home from close range. As Town pushed forward in the hope of salvaging a point, gaps appeared at the back and Rhodes did well to block Josh Shepherd as he pulled the trigger and then again to stop a surging run from Kyle Spooner. In a frenetic last attack, sub Reece Self reached the by line before chipping the ball in but despite several ricochets and a final header from Hutchinson which was again tipped over the bar, the Blues seven match winning run came to an unexpected and disappointing end.