Newark Town 2 – 1 St Joseph’s Rockware of Worksop

Newark Town 2 – 1 St Joseph’s Rockware of Worksop
A Lewis Chambers double won the day for the Blues after a gruelling 90 minutes against a Worksop side who gave as good as they got. Jake Hardy replaced Nathan Arnold, who moved himself to the bench while Jackson Buckthorpe made his full debut in place of the unavailable Jonny Wiles.
Town created the first opening as Rhys Lewis set up Mark Faflik who found beingspace in the area but fired narrowly wide. Worksop retaliated through Chris Lovett who likewise failed to hit the target. As the half progressed Newark gradually increased the pressure, Chambers screwing his shot wide after good work by Hardy on the left and then forcing a couple of corners after being put through by Ben Sharpe. The visitors were proving to be tough opponents and were quick to the tackle as Newark pressed. The Blues went close in the 27th minute, Hardy unleashing a well struck free kick which was turned round the post by keeper Jamie Hooley. The deadlock was broken in the 33rd minute after a moment of magic from Chambers. Sid Costa’s ball in from the right was headed out by a defender, Chambers meeting the bal with a perfect volley which looped over Hooley to put Town ahead. A disputed free kick 25 yards out led to the equaliser with 41 minutes played. The initial ball in was headed out for a corner from which Jaden Thackray got in first to head past Haywood. The first half was in added time when the Blues regained the lead, Mark Faflik crossing from the right for Chambers to bring the ball down, give himself an angle and shoot across Hooley to send his side in a goal to the good.
Chambers had another chance at the start of the second half, Faflik again the supplier but his shot this time was off target. Rhys Lewis was the forced to leave the field following a cut to the head being replaced by Zak Kersey. Worksop were pressing higher up the field and the home defence was put under increased pressure. The game became littered with a series of free kicks which might well have been reduced by firmer officiating. A couple of these were dangerously close to the Town goal but were narrowly wide. Arnold replaced Hardy for the final 20 minutes and his onfield organising steadied things. Chambers threatened again but was this time denied by a point blank save. Newark suffered a scare in the final minute as yet another free kick close in was headed powerfully towards goal by Kyle Wesley but fortunately straight into Haywood’s arms.
TEAM – Haywood, Costa, Sharpe, Lewis, Bartle, Gardner, Hardy, Buckthorpe, Chambers, Wallace, Faflik SUBS USED – Kersey, Arnold
ATTENDANCE 81