Town fall short at Bentley

The match was switched to the Doncaster club’s ground due to the damage caused to the Collingham pitch by an infestation of chafer beetle grubs.
Julian Joachim made his league debut for Town with Jordan Cummings also included and Rick North and latest signing Sam Betts on the bench.
After an even first ten minutes Newark were given a let off when Rick Brewer brought a Bentley player down on the edge of the area, the ball falling to Mundy who fired into the net, the goal chalked off by the referee who had awarded a free kick for the foul. Town retaliated with Sam Wilford and Arron Martin combining to launch the ball into the Bentley goalmouth, but Dom Swingler narrowly failed to connect. The home side went in front on 28 minutes when after a period of sustained pressure, Peynado lashed the ball past Nathan Burrows from 25 yards out. A fingertip save by keeper Senior diverted a Swingler shot just past a post while at the other end Severn’s header from a corner narrowly cleared the bar. Anthony missed a great chance to extend Bentley’s lead as half time approached, screwing his shot wide from a couple of yards out, but it was a temporary reprieve, as a minute from the interval Burrow’s smart close range save from Maddison fell to Pursehouse who netted from close range.
Town came out with more purpose in the second half, the first attack giving Joachim a chance which went the wrong side of the post. Martin and Joachim were again involved as a goalbound shot was deflected off a defender’s leg for a corner. Reece Self was the instigator of the Blues’ next promising break but again the final shot lacked direction. Joachim brought another save from Senior before the threatened goal finally arrived on 65 minutes. Dom Swingler made progress down the left to muscle his way past Taylor before lthumping an angled shot past the home keeper. Seconds later Martin almost levelled things but was denied by a sprawling save. There was a scare in the Town area as Brewer headed a bouncing ball narrowly over his own bar. Joachim’s substitution by Kieron Wall almost paid instant dividends as he shot inches past the post before a blistering run through the middle by Martin was blocked by Taylor. Jammy Lloyd and Martin both went close as Town upped the pressure but despite the late introduction of North and Betts, Newark couldn’t find an equaliser and now need to regroup before their match at Bilsthorpe next Saturday.