Thorne administer the last rites

While in terms of the final scoreline, this was not the best of results, logistically the match might be seen as a minor miracle. With the traditional problem of getting a side together at the fag end of the season combined with a 100 mile round trip on a Tuesday night, Tony Joynes deserves full praise as his three and a half hours on the phone on the day of the match ended with 13 players (including himself ) arriving at the ground. Fortunately it was a clear evening as the referee managed to delay the start until 7.22. Town's unfamiliar looking squad included Kyle Nicholson, Brandon Byers-Wilkes and Josh Martin all making their debuts for the first team and eight of the squad having the grand total of nine starts between them. Kirk Frost broke through for the home side as early as the 3rd minute shooting wide from a good position, Town retaliated, Leighton Nicholson losing out after a strong run and Reece Self seeing a free kick being pushed out by the keeper. Stand-in keeper Darren Townsley made the first of several good blocks to foil Frost but was beaten in the 12th minute as Kyle Palmer got his head to a corner which crept in at the post despite Sam Wilford's best efforts to clear. Townsley pulled off another block from Palmer, Glen Hookway heading the rebound over the bar. James Munson put a shot narrowly wide following a free kick and Leighton Nicholson went on a weaving run into the Thorne half before releasing Byers-Wilkes who saw his drive blocked by Chester. As half time approached Darren Fell struck a post and in the next move doubled the home side's lead as he was given time and space in the middle of the penalty area and gratefully accepted the opportunity, before the referee brought the half to an end after four unaccountable minutes of added time.
The Blues started positively at the start of the second period Self's long punt forward Chester just beating Munson and Byers-Wilkes to the ball, Byers-Wilkes also seeing a shot blocked on the line. Thorne added a fortunate third as Liam Green's mishit shot on 56 minutes sent Townsley the wrong way. Leighton Nicholson went close, a 25 yard effort coming back off the keeper, Munson almost profiting from the rebound. Jake Reynolds replaced Josh Martin on the hour before Newark went four behind on 66 minutes, Fell again left with a simple finish after he got the better of Jason Westwood. A ridiculously late flag from a linesman after Munson had run 30 yards with the ball and looked set to score was followed by a fierce drive from Byers-Wilkes which cannoned off a post as Town mounted a challenge, while at the other end Townsley saved well from Fell and Sheppard and Ebbage made the miss of the night from a yard out. The final score was given a rather flattering look for the home side as Hookway shot across Townsley on 86 minutes and Fell completed a hat trick a minute from time.