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Sat 26 Sep 2020 · North Division
First TeamAFC Bentley
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Newark Town 1 – 0 AFC Bentley
Dave Roberts27 Sep 2020 - 15:47
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Newark struggled to overcome a dogged defensive display
Newark Town 1 – 0 AFC Bentley
There was little to keep the spectators warm at a windswept YMCA as Newark struggled to overcome a dogged defensive display from a Bentley side who came seeking a point.
Luke Parsons had the rare luxury of naming an unchanged starting eleven from the team that overran Renishaw ten days ago, but it was soon clear that Bentley were made of sterner stuff as they snuffed out Newark’s initial wind-assisted attacks. The first shot at either end came on 16 minutes, Jonny Wiles shot passing a couple of feet wide. Zak Johnson had a couple of crosses deflected behind for corners, but neither keeper was forced into serious action, the wind carrying many of Town’s forward balls past the chasing forwards, while Nathan Burrows was kept busier with fielding back passes than anything created by the visitors. Elliott Dye did manage a header on target on the half hour, but it proved an easy task for Ryan Bedford in the Bentley goal. With 37 minutes played Town finally broke clear as Dom Sibilski found a way through but Lewis Chambers fired a foot wide of the post. Dye sustained an injury which forced him from the field as half time approached, Craig Bridge taking his place.
The second half began as the first had ended with little getting past either defence, Luke Parsons being outstanding at the back for the Blues. With an hour gone Bridge swept the ball out wide to Chambers but his dangerous cross again found a visiting boot to deflect it for a corner. Tom Moore replaced Tyler Martin with 25 minutes remaining. Chambers found the side netting from close range after a Marlon Grundy free kick before a Rhys Lewis shot had Bedford scrambling, the keeper clutching the ball at the second attempt, Bentley had a free kick in a promising position after Sibilski brought down Joe Smith on the edge of the area but the free kick was blasted over the bar. A vital tackle from Parsons then robbed Smith as he broke clear of the defence before Town got the all-important decider on 85 minutes, as Johnson got his head on a cross from the left to direct it firmly past Bedford. Although there had been one or two stoppages for injuries in the second half, quite how referee Jackson found eleven minutes to add on at the end only he will know.
The sides meet again in the League Cup next Saturday. Hopefully lessons will have been learned.
There was little to keep the spectators warm at a windswept YMCA as Newark struggled to overcome a dogged defensive display from a Bentley side who came seeking a point.
Luke Parsons had the rare luxury of naming an unchanged starting eleven from the team that overran Renishaw ten days ago, but it was soon clear that Bentley were made of sterner stuff as they snuffed out Newark’s initial wind-assisted attacks. The first shot at either end came on 16 minutes, Jonny Wiles shot passing a couple of feet wide. Zak Johnson had a couple of crosses deflected behind for corners, but neither keeper was forced into serious action, the wind carrying many of Town’s forward balls past the chasing forwards, while Nathan Burrows was kept busier with fielding back passes than anything created by the visitors. Elliott Dye did manage a header on target on the half hour, but it proved an easy task for Ryan Bedford in the Bentley goal. With 37 minutes played Town finally broke clear as Dom Sibilski found a way through but Lewis Chambers fired a foot wide of the post. Dye sustained an injury which forced him from the field as half time approached, Craig Bridge taking his place.
The second half began as the first had ended with little getting past either defence, Luke Parsons being outstanding at the back for the Blues. With an hour gone Bridge swept the ball out wide to Chambers but his dangerous cross again found a visiting boot to deflect it for a corner. Tom Moore replaced Tyler Martin with 25 minutes remaining. Chambers found the side netting from close range after a Marlon Grundy free kick before a Rhys Lewis shot had Bedford scrambling, the keeper clutching the ball at the second attempt, Bentley had a free kick in a promising position after Sibilski brought down Joe Smith on the edge of the area but the free kick was blasted over the bar. A vital tackle from Parsons then robbed Smith as he broke clear of the defence before Town got the all-important decider on 85 minutes, as Johnson got his head on a cross from the left to direct it firmly past Bedford. Although there had been one or two stoppages for injuries in the second half, quite how referee Jackson found eleven minutes to add on at the end only he will know.
The sides meet again in the League Cup next Saturday. Hopefully lessons will have been learned.
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