Craig Rhodes replaced the injured Chris Riley in goal, with Danny Lee at left back and Darren Townsley and Rhys Stanley stepped up to the subs bench.
Newark couldn’t have got off to a worse start, as in the first minute a back pass was delayed long enough to put Rhodes under pressure and his hurried clearance found Sam Huteson, who hammered the ball past the keeper from 25 yards out. Town hit straight back with a 5th minute equaliser, Danny Lee’s high ball in from the left coming just too high for keeper John Harrison who fumbled the ball over the line, with the assistant well placed to award the goal. Harrison looked less than comfortable in the early stages, a Danny Purves cross causing him more problems and both Lee and James Munson forcing corners. As the biting wind combined with a heavy shower, Munson was thwarted by a good block by the keeper but on 28 minutes the Blues were in front, as a through ball from Purves was finished off at the second attempt by Daryl Price. A 30 yard effort from Jamie Cousins went perilously close and for a while Town were their own worst enemies, possession being given away on several occasions, both Huteson and Stefan Radley going too close for comfort. Yet another penetrating cross from Lee saw Munson inches away from converting his header as the Blues reached the break a goal to the good.
With the wind now in their favour, Town started the second period on the attack, a huge kick out from Rhodes being caught by the speedy Price, who unselfishly squared the ball, Purves’ shot going inches wide. Harrison went down well to block a Munson shot as he got the better of Luke Taylor but the ball found Purves who slipped it through for Price to curl a superb shot inside the far post giving Town a two goal cushion on 56 minutes. Rhys Stanley replaced Lee and made an immediate impression supplying Sam Wilford whose close range was touched round the post. The lead was extended in the 67th minute, a long ball out from Sean Fulcher finding Arron Martin who found himself in acres of space as he cut in and easily beat the stranded Harrison. Newark were well in control now, Oli Dyson and Purves impressing with some slick interplay and it came as little surprise as they scored a fifth in the 79th minute, Stanley scoring with a well-judged lob over Harrison after Townsley had launched a huge ball from the back. Easington did pull one back in the 83rd minute from the penalty spot through Lewis Andrew, but Town finished on top, Martin having a shot turned aside by the keeper’s feet and Stanley twice clearing the bar by inches, the result lifting the Blues into fourth place in the table.

Photo by Chris Wade