Ten man Town go close

Newark Town’s issues with player commitment reached crisis point on Saturday as they were forced to begin this home game with just eight players, and play the majority of the 90 minutes with ten men. With four players crying off on the morning of the game for non-footballing reasons, this would appear to be the time to question whether certain players have any interest in representing the club, and to stop persevering with those who have not.
That being said, the depleted side who did turn out were magnificent, and gave their all, none more so than captain Luke Parsons, who put in a truly outstanding performance in defence.
Newark contained their opponents well in the opening stages despite being three players light, and as the numbers were almost evened up, play became more open. Ricki O’Connell made a good clearing header from Jenson Berry, but poor marking at a corner resulted in the Blues going behind on 19 minutes, Craig Conway unopposed as he headed firmly past Craig Rhodes. O’Connell then hit a long range effort wide before another Berry shot was deflected away from goal by Damian Lloyd, who put in another promising performance. Town were making inroads into the Kinsley half, but several crosses into the penalty area came to nothing. Newark had a let-off on 32 minutes Callum Stapleton’s shot cannoning off Rhodes and rebounding to the player who tamely returned it to the keeper. Rhodes was Town’s saviour minutes later as he produced a fine reaction save to turn Jack Owen’s snap shot past the post. Kinsley’s pressure was being well absorbed and when Newark broke away, an incisive flick from Jake Reynolds caused Kinsley keeper Tom Chestney an anxious moment as he narrowly beat Dom Swingler to the ball. Despite a header from Berry which went narrowly wide and a shot into the side netting by Conway, Town could take pride in going into the interval just one goal down.
Kinsley doubled their lead from the penalty spot two minutes into the second half, O’Connell bringing down Owen, who then sent Rhodes the wrong way with the spot kick. Despite this setback, Town fought on and were rewarded on 52 minutes, O’Connell’s free kick being met by a powerful looping header from Parsons. Andy Davis then had three chances to put Kinsley clear, Rhodes saving the first with his feet, a diving header just failing to connect, and finally the visitors’ captain dragged the ball wide from close in. O’Connell curled the ball a foot wide of the post, before Kinsley had the luxury of a couple of substitutions which resulted in more pressure, but despite the energy sapping conditions Town dug deep and stood firm. A 40 yard run from Lloyd ended with Reynolds’ shot being blocked. In the dying seconds Conway had the ball in Town’s net but was flagged offside. Despite the negative start to the game, Newark’s ten men had produced a performance of which they could be justifiably proud, but the underlying problems need to be addressed in the very near future.