It was Groundhog Day at Station Road as Town drew for the fifth time in the last seven league games, and, in the closing stages, twice came close to conceding all three points. In a match dominated by a gusty, swirling wind, both sides experienced difficulties which did little to add to the spectacle.
Town were first to have the doubtful advantage of the wind. A fast paced opening period saw both sides have glimpses of goal, Winterman’s shot clearing the bar while Kieron Wall’s effort was straight at the visiting keeper. Some good interplay round the edge of the Blues’ box gave Dobbin a sight of goal but Nathan Burrows saved well. A long ball forward was well taken down by Tyler Martin whose long range effort was gathered by the diving Devine before a promising move between Jammy Lloyd and Wall was ended by a foul on the keeper. A wind-assisted ball forward was well controlled by Wall who found Martin but the angle proved too tight for him to find the target. Wall then forced another full length save from the Askern keeper, who then was forced to bring him down outside the area, receiving the game’s only yellow card for his trouble.
Jordan Thomas, who had a disappointing first half was replaced by Dom Swingler at half time. Askern had an early opportunity, Williams blazing his shot perilously close to Town’s right hand post and held the balance of play before taking the lead on the hour, poor marking giving Downing the opportunity to head a Winterman corner home. Town took only three minutes to level things however, as in a crowded goal area Sam Wilford’s curling shot came back off the post for Tyler Martin to force the ball home from close range. A ball from Jordan Cummings then gave Martin a chance to put Newark in front, but narrowly missed the target under pressure from Carver. Askern had by far the better of the chances in the later stages of the match. Dobbin rounded his marker to get himself in a good position but shot wide before Burrows pulled off a good block to deny Winterman. With six minutes remaining Dobbin struck the bar, the ball bouncing clear while in the closing stages Winterman’s shot was on target but was cleared off the line by Michael Minty. On the balance of play this was yet again a scoreline which was probably about right, but will have done little to create much enthusiasm among the spectators. One bright spot was the performance of young Reece Carlisle, who played well beyond his years in the heart of the Newark defence.