For the third time this season Newark got the better of Thorne Colliery, but this time it wasn’t without a spell of anxiety as the visitors found themselves two goals down with just half an hour played. With Stuart Rose injured during the warm up, Will Nelson returned alongside Andrew Smith in the centre of the defence, Ian Wade filling the right back slot.
On a soft pitch, Thorne produced an early shock for the Blues. With just five minutes played a long ball from Sneap found Hallam who unleashed a firm drive which found the net via the underside of the bar. Home keeper Teale then pulled off the first of several impressive blocks from Jordan Thomas after he got on the end of a Rick Brewer cross. Thomas was then robbed by a defender as Jammy Lloyd laid the ball off, and Brewer blazed over from close range as Town chased an equaliser. Kieran Wall had the next chance, putting the ball wide from just three yards before Thomas got on the end of a Tyler Martin cross, but knocked the ball just wide under pressure from Stroud. On 31 minutes the visitors were punished further for their lack of accuracy in front of goal as with their second shot on target Thorne doubled their lead. Lynch curling a free kick perfectly inches inside the far post. The match was far from free-flowing, the referee’s whistle becoming a constant irritation as every tackle seemed to attract his attention. Newark finally found the net on 38 minutes in unusual circumstances. A free kick on the right was knocked into the area by Nelson, both defenders and forwards seemed to leave it to someone else, Andy Smith taking the opportunity to steer the ball home from close range.
Chris Dobbie and Arron Martin replaced Tyler Martin and Wall at the interval, as Newark started to play with far more purpose. A spell of pressure led to Town levelling things in the 51st minute, Dobbie hitting the bar and post before the ball fell to Swingler who hammered past Teale. Five minutes later Newark scored from the penalty spot, a decision which seemed to baffle everyone, the referee later confirming a Newark player had been held back by a defender. Thomas did the necessary from 12 yards. Teale produced another fine stop to deny Arron Martin, while Nathan Burrows did the same at the other end to keep out a Rhodes shot. As Newark looked to make the game safe, Swingler had the ball whipped of his toes by Snead as he lined up his shot while the Thorne keeper again excelled, going down to block efforts from Arron Martin and Swingler. A last ditch clearance from Smith rescued the Blues under pressure from Hallam before Swingler got his second in the 92nd minute, tapping the ball in from close range.