Six goals, three points for Blues

The Blues rounded off their home programme with an ultimately comfortable win over bottom markers Welbeck aided by two own goals and a goalkeeping performance which was far more entertaining than accomplished. George Pearce returned after a long injury, taking the place of Reece Carlisle in the back four after aggravating an injury during the warm up.
Town were quickly on the attack and took a 3rd minute lead when Tyler Martin put the visitors’ keeper under pressure forcing a weak clearance which Sam Wilford sidefooted home from all of 25 yards. Three minutes later the lead was doubled as Coddington lost his bearings completely allowing Cole Maule to find the unguarded net from outside the area. After such a positive opening it came as a shock when Welbeck pulled a goal back in the 11th minute, as a free kick out on the left was superbly struck by McTighe into the top right corner beyond the reach of Oliver Sinclair. Another free kick led to an equaliser for the visitors with 18 minutes played, Arnold being left unmarked in the Town penalty area and putting away an easy header. Chris Dobbie and Martin combined well to put Pearce through but this time Coddington was equal to it, saving well with his feet. Newark came close to regaining their advantage midway through the half, Martin setting up Maule who launched his shot against the underside of the bar, Jammy Lloyd’s follow up shot being kicked off the goal line. Town continued to press, Maule shooting wide from close range, but got their noses in front three minutes from the interval as Blackwell headed over his own keeper with Lloyd desperately trying to get the final touch.
The second half was only six minutes old when the Blues went further in front, Martin doing the hard work on the left before a low ball across the box was diverted into his own net by Stone. The Welbeck keeper then handled outside his area to stop sub Kieron Wall, receiving a yellow card for his pains. Welbeck were still producing some workmanlike football but were kept at bay by a solid Town rearguard, ably assisted by Wilford who worked tirelessly at both ends of the pitch. Yet another goalkeeping howler led to Newark’s fifth goal on 72 minutes, Coddington being caught yards outside his area as Maule’s cross was hammered against his own post by the covering defender, the rebound falling nicely for Wall to tap into the empty net. Lloyd sent a free kick inches wide before Newark rounded off the scoring in stoppage time, as the hapless Coddington came out to clear, completely missed the ball, Wall gleefully rolling the ball home for his second and Town’s sixth.