Nicholson's brace sets up Blues win

Newark Town’s season sparked into life as they registered their first win at Dronfield at the fifth attempt. After just ninety seconds, a bouncing ball played through midfield fell to the feet of new signing Adam Smith who put Newark into the lead with a half-volley from twenty five yards. Dronfield equalised on fourteen minutes, Ryan Baxter firing home a well-hit shot from twenty five yards. As the home side pressed, Town’s keeper made two fine saves , diving on both occasions to his right to keep the scores even. Seconds before the half-time whistle, in his first game for the Blues this season, Sam Wilford prevented an almost certain goal, taking the ball off the toes of Dronfield’s No.7, as he lined up his shot just five yards from the goal. Newark regained the lead on 63 minutes, Leighton Nicholson charging into the right hand side of the penalty area, pursued by two defenders. Two clever step-overs followed and then a cracking shot that found the top left of the net giving Newark a 2-1 lead. With just seven minutes remaining, Nicholson again found himself in an identical position and released a thunderbolt to give Newark the cushion of a two goal lead. At the back Ian Wade and Sean McGuiness marshalled Newark’s defence keeping things tight and well organised. After the turmoil of recent weeks Ricky Hunter was understandably elated. “Absolutely brilliant. I’ll certainly sleep well tonight. For the first time I’ve had a full squad to pick from with five subs and we still have six players to return.”

Report by Francis Towndrow