Newark Town 5 – 0 Kiveton Miners Welfare

Newark Town 5 – 0 Kiveton Miners Welfare
The Blues maintained their position at the top of the Premier North division table with a straightforward win over a Kiveton side who plugged away but never really threatened an upset.
Town threatened from the start, Jackson Buckthorp supplying Lewis Chambers who reached the bye line before cutting the ball back for Ben Sharpe, who saw his shot blocked. tHe opening goal was not long in coming as in the 12th minute as an Ainsley Finney free kick Sam found Sam Newell, whose low ball into the box was thumped home by Max Jemson, his first goal for the club. Six minutes later the home side added a second, Newell again the instigator as he threaded the ball through for Chambers to fire past keeper Sam Kelly. Kiveton struggled to make an impression in attack, Danny Neath trying his luck from distance, but comfortably clearing the bar. Kelly saved the visitors from falling further behind as he pulled off no less than four saves in quick succession from Chanju Mphande and Chambers. It wasn’t long however before he was beaten again, this time with an individual goal from Finney who weaved his way through the defence before slotting the ball home to give the Blues a comfortable lead with 36 minutes played. In a rare break the visitors went close as a lofted shot from James Savage bounced off the top of the bar. A measure of Town’s domination can be seen by the fact that Kiveton gained their first corner in the 44th minute.
Kiveton started the second half in a more positive fashion, hesitation in the Newark defence forcing Harry Haywood into his first meaningful save as he turned away a shot from Neath. At the other end Newell went close as he hit the angle of post and bar following a poor clearance by the keeper. Without the steadying influence of Rhys Lewis, who had been replaced at half time, the visitors looked slightly more threatening, Jordan Willis bringing a good low save from Haywood. Mphande was replaced by Elliott Burrell who with his first touch brought a fine save from Kelly after he had been played in by Finney. Town finally increased their lead on 74 minutes, Mark Faflik finding Chambers who set up Finney for his second of the match. Three minutes later the sane combination struck again, Chambers racing down the right and crossing for Finney to complete his hat trick. Haywood ensured Town kept a clean sheet in the final minute, bringing off a point blank save from Joe Dixon, buckthorp on hand to block the follow up shot.
After Tuesday’s Senior Trophy tie at Basford, the Blues have another home fixture against Sheffield Reserves on Saturday (3pm)