Early goal seals Blues' fate.

Despite again fielding a patched up side, Newark were very unfortunate not to take a share of the points in this tight top of the table clash. Once more there were wholesale changes in the back four, Ngoni Dongo appearing at right back with Jammy Lloyd and Rick Brewer in the middle. The subs bench was bolstered by emergency signings Danny Purves and Tom Wilford, who made his first appearance since April 2011. Town got off to the worst possible start, conceding what turned out to be the only goal of the game after just 9 minutes. Clay Cross keeper Townsend launched a huge kick upfield which bounced past the Blues’ defence, allowing Aiden Ordidge to outjump Craig Rhodes on the edge of the area, where he headed over the keeper and into the unguarded net. This was a poor goal to concede, Newark steeled themselves but the expected barrage from the home side failed to materialise. Jordan Thomas showed some neat touches but as in the match at Collingham a fortnight ago found himself smothered by a solid defence. Neither goalkeeper was overworked in the first half. Thomas did succeed in reaching the byline to sling over a tempting cross but there were no takers, while a short corner saw Dom Swingler send a curling shot past the angle of post and bar. Rhodes had one save of note, getting down well to block after Tittley broke down the left to allow Lytham to shoot.
The opening period of the second half was again short of goalmouth action, both defences mopping up any threat without too many problems. Jammy Lloyd and Sam Wilford stood out for the Blues, both players constantly in action to spur Town on to an equaliser. Tony Joynes sent on all three subs on the hour, Chris Dobbie, Tom Wilford and Danny Purves replacing Danny Lee, Darren Townsley and James Munson. A free kick conceded on the edge of the Newark penalty area spelled danger, but Goodwin blazed the ball high over the bar. Clay Cross did go close with a volley from Robinson which narrowly cleared the bar and at the other end a defence splitting ball from Purves almost brought the Blues a deserved leveller, Townsend just reaching the ball before Dobbie, but that was about it. A goalless draw would probably have been a just result, but that one slip meant the gap between the two teams is now six points. There was far less between them on the night !