Unavailability meant manager Tony Joynes was forced into four changes ahead of the match, with George Pearce, Jordan Cummings, Sam Gregory and Reece Self all finding a place in the starting line-up.
After enjoying little success with the long-ball tactic at Harworth in midweek, Newark were more effective in the first half with some fast, incisive passing ensuring more chances were created.
Despite an impressive first-half display, the Blues lacked the killer instinct required, with Ben Porter in particular failing to test Hallowes in the Phoenix goal after finding himself in a good position on several occasions.
Jamie Brooks could have done better when slicing his shot well wide when the ball seemed to fall perfectly for him. Calum Fraser, not as sharp as he had been in previous matches, also should have bagged himself a goal just before the break, but couldn’t latch onto the end of Porter’s header when well placed.
Against an unsettled back four, Phoenix crafted some decent chances of their own in the opening period, and should have opened the scoring as Lund hammered his effort onto the bar with the goal at his mercy. The Blues were hit by injury just before the interval as Pearce was forced off after being on the receiving end of a painful challenge.
The passing football which had served Newark so well seemed to desert them in the second half, as they struggled to breach the Phoenix back line. Just as they had in their previous game, the Blues were stunned by two goals in the space of two minutes.
Hadfield gave the visitors the lead in the 58th minute, sweeping his first-time effort past Riley after some good work down the right from Cross.
Moments later Ben Porter had a strong appeal for a penalty turned down, but the referee was unmoved as Phoenix broke down field. A strong run by Cross took him past several Newark players before his shot beat Riley’s despairing dive to nestle in the corner.
Newark committed more men up front, but with their fluency gone, Phoenix were in no mood to surrender their lead easily. Captain Luke Parsons offered the Blues some hope with twenty minutes remaining, as he curled a free kick past the wall and into the bottom corner. They continued to punt long balls deep into the Phoenix half, but the visitors held firm ensuring the three points.
Tony Joynes was left deflated by the result, and pointed to a number of missed chances in the first half as the deciding factor.
He said: “It was disappointing to go in 0-0 at half time after creating so many opportunities. We made a number of openings and should have been at least three up. We should have been taking the game by the scruff of the neck, and it just hasn’t happened.”

Report by Rick Lane