Newark Town 6 -0 Askern Miners
The Blues put the previous week’s disappointment behind them with a convincing win against opponents who battled hard against the odds for the full 90 minutes.
Town gave a debut to Max Jemson at right back and included midfielder Sam Newell, making his first start.
After an early penalty appeal after Lewis Chambers went down in the area, Town went close on 11 minutes, Mark Faflik’s shot hitting the base of the post. Askern responded with Jason Toomer and Danny Jones having shots blocked. There was a lengthy delay as the visiting keeper Lee Mayberry was injured after colliding with one of his own defenders, continuing after treatment. Newell lashed a 25 yard shot just too high before the home side went ahead on 31 minutes. Faflik made a run down the right before slipping the ball to Kosi Nwobi who laid the ball back for Ainsley Finney to lash the ball home. Mayberry was then forced to leave the field, being replaced by Danny Jones, whose first involvement was to push away another goalbound effort from Finney. The striker wasn’t to be denied for long however as in the 43rd minute a shot from Newell wasn’t held by the substitute keeper, Finney reacting quickly to knock the ball home.
Finney completed a well taken hat trick in the 55th minute, Faflik finding Chambers on the bye line who squared the ball to leave Finney with a tap in. James Gardner then sent a defence-splitting ball to Nwobi who was denied by a timely save from Jones. Five minutes later Chambers got his name on the scoresheet following a left wing corner which the defence failed to clear. Jones then pulled off another couple of well-judged good saves from Finney and Chambers before sub Niall Parsons put across another corner which was met by a header from Rhys Lewis, Nathan Redmile clearing off the line. Goal number five came on 82 minutes, Parsons and Chanju Mphande combining on the left, the final cross being met once again by Finney. Chambers got his second of the afternoon four minutes from time, Jemson’s accurate through ball allowing him a straightforward finish past the stranded keeper.
The Blues take a break from league action this week, facing Sherwood Colliery Reserves twice, firstly away on Tuesday night in the Floodlit Cup followed by a home tie in the Notts Senior Trophy on Saturday.