Newark Town put the disappointment of their midweek defeat behind them with a comfortable 4-1 victory over Brodsworth Welfare at Station Road. George Pearce’s introduction in the second half proved to be the difference; the defender scoring twice to help the Blues take the game away from their South Yorkshire opponents.

The visitors were often careless in possession which gave Newark the lion’s share of the ball early on. Luke Parsons flashed a long range effort wide and Arron Martin was denied from close range by Dom Senior in the Brodsworth goal. Chances were coming thick and fast for the Blues, but the finishing once again proved problematic in the opening stages.

Parsons went close as his header from a Daryl Price corner was cleared off the line, before Martin was agonisingly denied by the post shortly before half time as he dragged his shot from just inside the area. Even though the visitors improved before the break, Newark were still disappointed not to be at least a couple of goals ahead.

The introduction of Pearce who replaced the injured JC McDonald proved to be a tactical masterstroke, as he helped give the Blues the lead just before the hour mark with a thumping header from a Price corner.

However after working so hard to edge ahead, they were dealt a setback as Brodsworth equalised against the run of play in the 65th minute. Joe McIntosh had been the one most likely to cause Newark problems, and he took advantage of some space just outside the area to curl an effort into the corner of the net.

The response was swift. Danny Purves, another substitute, delivered an accurate cross after a well worked short corner. Pearce was on hand once again to deliver a clinical header past Senior at the back post.

There was no question of the Blues giving up the lead once again, and both Price and Reece Self had good chances, before they stretched their lead on 78 minutes. Martin, who adapted well to a more advanced position, beat two defenders on the edge of the area before unselfishly cutting the ball back to Alex Hales, who gratefully accepted an easy tap-in.

Price put a seal on the victory six minutes later, after latching onto another accurate cross-field ball from Purves. He went through one-on-one with Senior and confidently dispatched his effort to score his fourth goal in three games, and give Newark a well-deserved three points.

Tony Joynes commended his team after a clinical display of football in the second-half. “The pleasing thing for me, is the lads who were here put in a good performance today. It was all about patience today, waiting for the right moment to the goals. We were disappointed to let them back in it after we took the lead, but I’m glad we had enough about us to get the win,” he said.

Report by Rick Lane