Town fail to rise at Phoenix

Newark slid to an uninspiring defeat against a Phoenix side who have put together an impressive run which has turned their season round completely. Again it was the back four which required a makeover, only Luke Parsons remaining from the previous game. Ricki O’Connell returned after a seven match absence, while Damian Lloyd made his first appearance since November and Danny Purves stepped into the vacant left back slot.
With a chilly breeze blowing diagonally across the exposed pitch, James Munson had the game’s first chance, heading a Purves free kick wide. A Reece Self cross was then blocked, but again the resulting corner was headed past the post. Neither keeper had a noteworthy save to make in the first 20 minutes, but the stalemate was ended in the 24th minute when Rob Gorman ran on to a through ball and past unconvincing appeals for offside to put Phoenix ahead. A minute later Lloyd did well to get in a challenge to stop another threatening run by the same player. Jordan Thomas put a curling free kick a foot wide of the post. Newark were fortunate not to go two down on the stroke of half time as Bowden headed against the bar, the ball rebounding into Rhodes’ hands.
The wind died down a little at the start of the second half and play remained relatively even. Thomas twisted past three players in the Phoenix area before being crowded out and Self chased a loose ball goalwards, reaching the ball just before the keeper, but seeing his lob run wide. The introduction of Jason Westwood for Self on the hour gave Town a bit more presence in midfield as play became more concentrated in the Phoenix half of the field, but no-one seemed able to get behind the defence to put the crosses over. The substitute almost got on the scoresheet on 75 minutes as he turned and hammered a shot inches over the bar before Thomas had a shot which once more curled wide of the post. Rhodes kept Town in the game on 78 minutes, bringing off an outstanding double save from McDonnell. The last ten were probably the most promising from Newark’s point of view as first Thomas then Munson going close, the latter after Darren Townsley got to the byline. The closest to an equaliser, however, came two minutes from time, as Purves swung in a free kick, forcing a fingertip save from Merone as Westwood powered his header goalwards.
After the highs of the last few weeks, this was a disappointing afternoon, Bilsthorpe now moving into second place, and Westella also well placed to move into the top three.