Work commitments and injuries meant that only five of Saturday’s starting eleven began the game, which included Garry Attwood, making his first appearance of the season, and captain for the night Sam Wilford starting his 200th game for the club. It was Wilford who set Town on the way in the first minute, picking up a loose ball on the edge of the box and setting up Chris Dobbie for Town’s opener. Welbeck caused a minor shock on 7 minutes, as Caldwell played the ball in and Frost shot crisply past Attwood, and for the next few minutes the visitors gave as good as they got, Sean Fulcher having to be alert to hack another effort from Frost off the line. James Munson had a header deflected over the bar at the other end, and on 22 minutes the Blues regained the lead as from 25 yards out Jamie Brooks looped the ball over keeper Radford and under the bar. Town were putting together some good passing moves with Welbeck finding it increasingly difficult to make much progress over the halfway line. Three goals in six minutes before half time effectively put the match beyond doubt. On 38 minutes, Brooks set up Wilford who put his shot across Radford and into the corner. Three minutes later, Munson chased a long ball forward, retaining possession after his challenge on the keeper saw the ball return to him. The ball was slipped to the unmarked Dobbie, who had the simple task of rolling the ball into the empty net, amid heated claims of offside from Welbeck, which may well have been justified. On 44 minutes another good finish from Wilford made it five.
Daryl Price replaced Dobbie after the break, his pace causing further problems for the overrun visitors, who to their credit never gave up despite being under pressure for long periods. Danny Purves and George Paling made inroads down both flanks early in the half as Town took almost complete control, and the Blues went further ahead on 56 minutes, Munson rising highest to head a Reece Self cross firmly home. With Fulcher and George Pearce forging a solid combination at the back, Town looked increasingly comfortable, and further goals looked likely. Price sent one in from the edge of the area, which Radford got away with difficulty, and on 70 minutes what turned out to be the final goal of the game was hit home from 20 yards by Sam Gregory, his first for the club. The rest of the game was something of an anti-climax, Sam Bagworth’s drive which went inches over the bar the nearest Newark came to adding to their total.
“Five wins in the last two weeks has turned things around completely, we no longer look like pushovers” said Tony Joynes. “It was important we didn’t go into tonight’s game over confident, and with some absentees tonight, it shows we have strength in depth to cover this. However the last half hour tailed off a bit, and we’ll need to be at our best against Thorne on Saturday”.