Blues pegged back by Millers

At three o’clock on Saturday a point against league leaders Clay Cross Town would have seemed a reasonable outcome for the Blues, but by the end of the game the feeling was one of an opportunity lost. Newark again put on a thoroughly hardworking display, but after going two goals clear, a couple of defensive errors allowed the visitors to rescue a point.
Tony Joynes had the luxury of an almost unchanged side after last week’s win at Bilsthorpe, Arron Martin returning after suspension, with Chris Dobbie dropping to the bench, where he was joined by James Munson who re-signed for the club from Bilsthorpe in midweek. The game got off to a combative start, Darren Townsley finding his way into the referee’s book as early as the second minute, with the visitors’ Meadley and Lynam following shortly afterwards. The Blues threatened early on, as a free kick from Ian Hillier was headed against the bar by Luke Hutchinson. The tempo of the game was high, with Town allowing their opponents no time to settle on the ball. Craig Rhodes was down well to save from Meadley, while at the other end Hillier curled his shot into Townsend’s arms. The league’s top scorer, Lynam, was getting little change out of George Pearce and Alex Hales, though Rhodes had to be alert to punch the ball to safety as Aiden Ordidge threatened. Two minutes from the break Newark went in front. Dom Swingler flicked the ball to Martin, whose defence splitting ball was slid home at the far post by Thomas.
Rhodes was again in action early in the second half, producing a good low save from Aiden Ordidge, while at the other end, Thomas headed over from a promising position after Hillier and Martin had combined well on the right. A tactical error by player-manager Lynam resulted in Town extending their lead on 57 minutes. After an injury resulted in play being restarted with a dropped ball, and with Newark offering to play the ball to the Clay Cross keeper, Lynam insisted on contesting the ball. This resulted in Sam Wilford winning it and accelerating down the middle before laying the ball off to Thomas who produced the perfect finish, firing the ball past Townsend. Newark now applied more pressure, and with Clay Cross now looking rattled it was doubly unfortunate that an error should give them a way back into the game. A long ball from Tittley saw Rhodes come to the edge of his area but fail to collect the ball, giving Lynam a simple chance. The balance of play now shifted, Tittley heading against the angle of bar and post, before another mistake allowed the visitors to level it on 77 minutes. The ball was played into the Town area from the left, Hales missed his kick and Matthews took full advantage from close range. Clay Cross were reduced to ten men a minute later, Ryan Ordidge receiving a second yellow for a foul on Thomas. The visitors’ front two were then substituted, and the points shared, only the fourth time Newark have drawn in their last 77 league games.