Although the Blues went down to their second defeat in three days, there was absolutely no similarity between the two performances. Whereas the Phoenix match on Saturday was almost totally lacking a spark, the display against Westella proved what a cruel game football can be. Despite travelling to Barton without a recognised goalkeeper, and going two goals down in the first quarter, Town took the game to their opponents for almost the whole of the ninety minutes. With both Craig Rhodes and Ed Munton working, Chris Dobbie filled in between the posts and the latest variation on the back four featured Sam Wilford, Jay Westwood, Damien Lloyd and Danny Purves.
The early signs were ominous as a missed challenge in the box saw Mike Hewitt open the scoring as early as the 7th minute, but Town responded well, Damien Lloyd doing well to put the ball into the area, where Reece Self’s clip to James Munson ended with a lob over the bar. Munson was again close as a Purves cross cleared him by a fraction, the next attack ending in a similar fashion, as Munson’s cross narrowly eluded Jordan Thomas. Despite the early pressure Newark were caught again on 19 minutes, Garry Flounders releasing the prolific Alex Wood, who ran on to give Dobbie no chance. Town retaliated again, Jammy Lloyd supplying a great ball in, from which Munson brought a good diving save from Otley who tipped it round the post. Play was becoming more and more concentrated in Westella’s half, Thomas being robbed by Williamson as he pulled the trigger, and Self being crowded out after robbing Hewitt and getting into the area. The break arrived with the Blues still two goals adrift despite dictating play for a sizeable chunk of the first half.
Newark were straight back on the attack after the interval, a Wilford piledriver being beaten away by the keeper, though in a by now infrequent breakaway, Petch should have done better as he poked the ball wide when well placed. Westella were being reduced to a long ball game, their forwards chasing the ball more in hope than expectation, but Newark’s more structured passing game still couldn't quite produce the deserved breakthrough. Darren Townsley produced a first time lob which just cleared the bar before being replaced by Jake Reynolds, back after a long injury layoff. Jordan Thomas curled a free kick over the bar and Purves launching a cross-cum-shot which drifted tantalisingly close to the angle of post and bar. The goal which had been threatened for so long finally arrived on 80 minutes, another spell of pressure ending with Munson striking a sweet volley which raised hopes of a return from the game. The last ten minutes saw Town put on sustained pressure, but time finally ran out, an inspiring performance going without reward.
There were a lot of impressive performances in the Blues line up, Jammy Lloyd providing the sort of display which his absence for most of the season has deprived us of, while Jason Westwood showed all his experience, motivating the younger players and earning the Man of the Match award. Damien Lloyd and Ngoni Dongo also put on very mature performances for young players, but all twelve players deserved credit for their commitment.