Newark Town 3 – 1 Dinnington Town

Newark Town 3 – 1 Dinnington Town
The Blues faced their first big test since the opening day of the season and passed with flying colours, Dinnington surrendering their unbeaten record after an absorbing 90 minutes. Town were without top scorer Lewis Chambers, Jake Hardy wearing the number nine shirt.
The early stages of the game were even with both defences quick to snuff out any threat, and consequently there were few problems for either keeper. Damba Hagie in the Dinnington net had to react quickly to head clear under pressure from Nathan Arnold, while at the other end Brad Hanson’s drive from distance flew well over the bar. Neither goal was seriously threatened until the closing minutes of the first half when following a quick throw from Sid Costa, Arnold’s shot from a tight angle brought a diving save from Damba. A minute later the deadlock was broken when a long ball from midfield found Jake Hardy with space between two covering defenders, the striker taking full advantage with Dinnington appealing for an offside flag which never came.
Newark began the second half on the front foot and were unlucky not to extend their lead on 52 minutes when a lofted ball from Jonny Wiles was met by a well placed header from Hardy which beat the keeper but hit the post before bouncing clear. Town’s pressure bore more fruit on 64 minutes when a ball in from the left was met by a header from Arnold which struck the hand of a Dinnington defender. Hardy stepped up and easily beat Demba from the penalty spot. Zak Kersey then curled a shot narrowly wide of the post and shortly afterwards Arnold again went close, his lobbed shot hitting the side netting. Dinnington made a couple of substitutions which seemed to revitalise them, Olly Grady sending in a dangerous cross which Sam Bartle did well to cut out. Any chance of Town seeing the game out comfortably was dashed on 78 minutes when a foul on Dan Cain led to a free kick on the edge of the box. Jordan Turner’s free kick was hit all along the ground, evading the jumping defensive wall and Harry Haywood in the Town goal. A nervous last ten minutes was relived a minute from time when Newark’s subs combined to put the result beyond doubt, Ben Wallace controlled the ball well and pulling it back for Elliott Burrell to slot home. There was still time for the visitors to hit the bar, but the points stayed at home.