Town sign off with a win

Newark Town’s season reached its conclusion with their first away win of the season at perennial strugglers Welbeck Welfare. The usual shake up of players saw the return of Richard Dadu following an injury which has sidelined him since October, while Matt Wagner and Rob Winter were also drafted in for rare appearances.
Town started brightly and took a 6th minute lead as Rhys Stanley hammered a 25 yard shot past keeper Sipson to settle the nerves. He then had a second shot beaten away before the lead was increased on 17 minutes. Andy Palmer and Michael Minty combined to put Will Fry away on the left and his cross was converted by Dom Swingler who found the far corner. Any hopes that the Blues were going to run away with the game were dampened five minutes later as Wainwright headed past Sam Russell from a right wing cross. Welbeck then put Newark under pressure without any undue alarm while at the other end a long throw from Fry was played through by Palmer, Stanley narrowly failing to connect. Swingler shot into the side netting before sloppy defending on the stroke of half time allowed the unmarked Wagg head home from a well struck free kick to send the sides in level at the interval.
Town began on the offensive in the early stages of the second half, Fry sending over a long cross from the left which was only inches wide. After Richard Dadu was fortunate to escape a red card after wrestling a Welbeck player to the ground, Newark began to take control. With 53 minutes gone, Stanley and Fry supplied Palmer who weaved his way through the Welbeck defence to shoot across Sipson to put Town back in front. After Swingler and Stanley had both gone close, Palmer struck again on the hour with a firm shot from 20 yards out. Sub Rob Winter had a shot well save by Sipson , before the Blues went three up on 69 minutes. Baxter Smith made a surging run down the left and Swingler was on hand to notch his fourth in two games. The home side scored a third through their best player Scott Edwards but Newark had the last word, Winter striking the bar before a limping and heavily bandaged Stanley lashed a 25 yarder past Sipson in the final minute to give Kevin O’Neill and Steven Crawford the satisfaction of going out on a winning note.