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Sat 23 Oct 2021 · BLACK DRAGON BADGES PREMIER NORTH DIVISION
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Newark Town 3 – 0 AFC Phoenix
Dave Roberts23 Nov 2021 - 09:27
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not without its frustrations
Newark Town 3 – 0 AFC Phoenix
A match which was not without its frustrations saw the Blues overcome a well organised defensive display from a Phoenix side which remains rooted to the foot of the table. Their forwards however ensured that Town’s keeper Harry Haywood remained a spectator for long stretches of the game. Zak Kersey and Ben Wallace returned to the starting eleven in place of Elliott Burrell and Jackson Buckthorpe.
Town were not long in opening their account, Sid Costa firing across keeper Dillon Thorpe following a ball in from the left to score his first goal for the club after just seven minutes. Town had the better of the early exchanges although it took a timely block from Sam Bartle to close down Jake Bishop as he threatened. Any thoughts of another rush of goals were soon put aside as a string of offside decisions halted many of their forward moves. A promising move instigated by James Gardner and Jonny Wiles ended with Lewis Chambers heading narrowly over the bar from close range. Mark Faflik shot just wide of a post before Chambers again went close, just beaten to the ball by Ash O’Brien. A second goal however looked almost inevitable and it came in the 32nd minute, Faflik touching the ball through to Chambers who celebrated his 50th start for the club by slotting the ball past Thorpe for his 58th goal. Town almost made it three before half time, Thorpe pulling off a point blank save to deny Faflik as he latched on to a Wallace cross.
Faflik and Kersey brought good saves from Thorpe early in the second half before Phoenix had a rare but clear chance in the 52nd minute, Nick Mulgrew rounding Haywood but being thwarted by a magnificently timed challenge from Rhys Lewis which cleared the danger. After this the visitors almost disappeared as an attacking force, but continued to frustrate the Blues’ attacks, their defence working overtime to keep Town at bay. A looping cross from Matt Clarke was inches away from being finished by Gardner at the far post before a Lewis shot came back off the post. Newark rang the changes, Jake Hardy, Jeremiah Ogie and Jackson Buckthorpe replacing Costa, Faflik and Lewis. Town’s third goal didn’t arrive until five minutes from the end, Chambers scoring at the second attempt after seeing his initial effort blocked by Thorpe.
Town remain in second place in the table, a point behind Thorne Colliery who won by a single goal at AFC Bentley.
A match which was not without its frustrations saw the Blues overcome a well organised defensive display from a Phoenix side which remains rooted to the foot of the table. Their forwards however ensured that Town’s keeper Harry Haywood remained a spectator for long stretches of the game. Zak Kersey and Ben Wallace returned to the starting eleven in place of Elliott Burrell and Jackson Buckthorpe.
Town were not long in opening their account, Sid Costa firing across keeper Dillon Thorpe following a ball in from the left to score his first goal for the club after just seven minutes. Town had the better of the early exchanges although it took a timely block from Sam Bartle to close down Jake Bishop as he threatened. Any thoughts of another rush of goals were soon put aside as a string of offside decisions halted many of their forward moves. A promising move instigated by James Gardner and Jonny Wiles ended with Lewis Chambers heading narrowly over the bar from close range. Mark Faflik shot just wide of a post before Chambers again went close, just beaten to the ball by Ash O’Brien. A second goal however looked almost inevitable and it came in the 32nd minute, Faflik touching the ball through to Chambers who celebrated his 50th start for the club by slotting the ball past Thorpe for his 58th goal. Town almost made it three before half time, Thorpe pulling off a point blank save to deny Faflik as he latched on to a Wallace cross.
Faflik and Kersey brought good saves from Thorpe early in the second half before Phoenix had a rare but clear chance in the 52nd minute, Nick Mulgrew rounding Haywood but being thwarted by a magnificently timed challenge from Rhys Lewis which cleared the danger. After this the visitors almost disappeared as an attacking force, but continued to frustrate the Blues’ attacks, their defence working overtime to keep Town at bay. A looping cross from Matt Clarke was inches away from being finished by Gardner at the far post before a Lewis shot came back off the post. Newark rang the changes, Jake Hardy, Jeremiah Ogie and Jackson Buckthorpe replacing Costa, Faflik and Lewis. Town’s third goal didn’t arrive until five minutes from the end, Chambers scoring at the second attempt after seeing his initial effort blocked by Thorpe.
Town remain in second place in the table, a point behind Thorne Colliery who won by a single goal at AFC Bentley.
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