Another narrow defeat

For the second Saturday running Newark failed to get any reward for a spirited display as they went down to an abrasive Dronfield outfit. With Easter approaching, only Will Fry remained of the Lincoln University contingent, the gaps filled by Ryan Ashley, Alex Boswell and Reece Self, with Tyler Martin and Lewis Cawthorne also starting.
There was nothing to choose between the sides in the early stages, Boswell being inches away from converting a left wing cross before being called into action at the other end doing well to rob Gordon as he lined up his shot. Newark came close to opening the scoring on 17 minutes as keeper Conroy palmed an in-swinging Fry corner against the bar, the ball falling kindly for the defence to clear. Town were denied a penalty as Martin was pushed in the back as he pursued a long ball from Ashley, but the claim was waved away. Cawthorne pushed a fierce effort from Savage over the bar before Rhys Stanley was thwarted by a good block by the keeper as he ran clear of the defence. As half time approached Stanley was again denied by Conroy, and just as it seemed the first half would be goalless, the Blues received a setback as Dronfield took a 44th minute lead. A Savage free kick was headed across the goal by Jones for Batterham to force a short range header home, the goal allowed despite claims that Cawthorne had been impeded.
Things got worse within two minutes of the restart, Cawthorne fumbling a high basll into the area to allow Bradwell an easy second goal. The arrears should have been reduced a minute later, as another long ball was fired into the side netting by Stanley with Martin better placed to finish. Newark were awarded a penalty on 55 minutes for a push in the area, but the decision was reversed after the intervention of a late offside flag. Newark did pull a goal back with 61 minutes gone, Joe Parker blasting the ball past the powerless Conroy. A flurry of substitutions followed, one of the Newark replacements, Aaran Needham going closest to an equaliser, Conroy beating the ball clear. Needham then played Martin in but the keeper was again equal to the task. As time ran out, Cawthorne atoned for his earlier error with excellent saves from Bradwell and Earl, but yet again Newark were left to rue missed opportunities.