The tone for this match was perhaps set at the start with bottom of the table Welbeck only being able to field 10 players. Newark had the returning Luke Hutchinson in a back three, Danny Lee, Dom Swingler and Craig Rhodes also returning to the side.

Newark opened with the breeze behind them on Welbeck’s impressive new pitch, and for the opening minutes struggled to find the form which they had shown in their midweek game at Westella. Jordan Thomas had the first opportunity, but shot straight at Sipson in the Welbeck goal. In fact, the home side almost took an early lead, Lee’s header from a left wing corner being cleared off the line by Reece Self. A series of over-hit crosses and misplaced passes by Town proved frustrating, but were settled by the opening goal on 18 minutes, Thomas flicking home a Swingler cross from close in. The second goalfollowed five minutes later, Self being brought down in the area by Reeve and Thomas confidently dispatching the spot kick. Sipson then produced a good block to deny Thomas a quick hat trick, but it only delayed the inevitable, the striker picking up his third on 31 minutes, his 25 yard effort finding the back of the net. The Blues did suffer a slight setback two minutes later, as Savage, who, along with Brentnall was full of running at the front for the home side, broke clear and stroked the ball past Rhodes. A burst of three goals in four minutes removed any uncertainty. With 39 minutes on the clock, Danny Lee got behind the defence and crossed for Thomas to add his, and Town’s fourth. Two minutes later Lee repeated the move, and this time James Munson was on hand to provide the finishing touch. With another two minutes gone Newark were awarded a second penalty, Self being adjudged by the referee to have been brought down by Gregory on the edge of the area. Thomas again stepped up to complete a remarkable first half.

Newark continued to create chances after the break, but Welbeck’s defence stuck manfully to their task, aided by some wayward finishing on the visitors’ part. Chris Dobbie and Jake Reynolds replaced Munson and Lee on the hour before Rhodes was brought into action, pulling off a good save from Savage. It took until the 65th minute for the Blues to add to their total, Ngoni Dongo launching a 25 yard free kick past the wall and keeper Sipson. Swingler and Dongo linked up to supply Reynolds with his first senior goal for the club on 76 minutes, the youngster running on to slip the ball past the advancing goalkeeper, who then pulled off an outstanding save after Thomas had unselfishly laid the ball off to Self. The last of Town’s goals came on 83 minutes, Reynolds showing admirable persistence before lobbing Sipson, the ball striking the underside of the bar and ending in the net.

Despite the scoreline, Welbeck deserve a lot of credit for staying positive and putting in the effort for the whole 90 minutes, it’s to be hoped things turn round for them next season. Jordan Thomas’s five goals take his total to 30 for the season, which include ten in the two matches against today’s opponents. This puts him six behind the league’s leading scorer, Clay Cross’s Ant Lynam.

After again showing a maturity beyond his years, Damien Lloyd was judged Newark’s man of the match.