Long trip but no reward for Blues

The perennial problem blighting senior football in Newark surfaced yet again this week. On Wednesday night, Town beat mid-table Thorne Colliery at Station Road. Saturday’s 200 mile round trip to the North Sea coast at Easington featured just Liam Needham, Michael Minty, Vlad Dadu and Sam Wilford from the 14 present in the previous game. After countless phone calls and rejections managers Kevin O’Neill and Steve Crawford managed to raise eleven to make the trip, and were forced to name themselves on the subs bench, though fortunately weren’t called upon.
The Blues line-up included debutants Andy Palmer and Joe Ward, while keeper Sam Russell was pressed into service as an emergency striker and acquitted himself very well.
With a strong wind blowing diagonally across a pitch which was decidedly on the soft side, the Blues had an early opportunity as Cody Donnelly was fouled, Palmer firing in a well struck free kick which Holden turned away. The strength of the wind made it difficult for both sides to judge passes, though Havercroft did put in a swirling effort which Needham judged well. The Blues keeper then excelled himself as he pulled off a one handed reaction save from Barron. Palmer’s impressive composure under pressure was evident on several occasions, he and Sam Wilford combining well in midfield. Russell looked lively at the front, putting Ollie Jones through, the final shot going just wide before Minty’s through ball saw Holden snatch the ball from Russell’s feet. Newark fell behind on 39 minutes as a free kick from just outside the area was flicked home by Barnett. Donnelly forced a full length save from the keeper after robbing Taylor, while at the other end Hutchinson’s free kick cleared the bar by inches.
The elements were more in Town’s favour in the second half, but again judging balls forward proved challenging. A searching ball from Wilford was directed just wide by Donnelly while a Ward free kick flashed inches over the bar. Needham pulled off another outstanding one-handed save from Hutchinson but Town’s resistance was finally ended as they conceded twice in the space of two minutes. First Wilford was adjudged to have fouled an Easington forward in the area, Hutchinson dispatching the spot kick. Brumhead added a third shortly afterwards from close range. To their credit, Town battled on, Palmer striking a superb free kick which hit the angle of post and bar, while man of the match Minty saw a long range shot fingertipped over the top by Holden. Needham capped another impressive display with a brave dive at the feet of Hutchinson, before referee Tingle called an end to proceedings in the gathering gloom.

Photo courtesy of Colin Brammer