Town see the light

What a difference three days can make. After Saturday’s roasting, the Blues could have been forgiven for approaching this Floodlit Cup quarter final with less than enthusiasm than usual. There was no sign of this however as a quality team performance saw them through to a semi-final tie with either Retford or Harworth. Alex Hales replaced Stuart Rose in the centre back role with Tyler Martin leading the attack alongside Kieran Wall and Reece Carlisle at left back.
Newark started the match in a far more confident fashion, Ngoni Dongo setting the tone as he was narrowly beaten to the ball by keeper Clayton, then seconds later robbing Holland at the other end of the pitch. After a promising start it was a disappointment when the home side took the lead on 17 minutes, Bates firing home via the left hand post, the ball ricocheting just inside the opposite upright. This setback seemed to spur the Town on and they were level just seven minutes later as Tyler Martin played in Kieran Wall who judged his lob over Clayton perfectly to find the net. Newark’s defence was doing a good job in snuffing out the Millers’ attacks, Reece Carlisle doing particularly well to restrict the dangerous Lytham and Ian Wade, Hales and Will Nelson combining well in the heart of the defence. Dongo was again in the right place as he got in a timely challenge as Clay lined up his shot as the Blues reached the interval on level terms.
Town had the first chance of the second half, Dongo unleashing a piledriver which Clayton did well to touch over the bar. Martin had the ball in the net a minute later but was ruled offside before play switched to the other end, Holland breaking free before ballooning his shot over the bar. Lynam, who had been well policed by Hales and Nelson departed on the hour before Nathan Burrows produced a timely punch to clear Needham’s teasing cross then blocking Clay’s shot with his feet. On 75 minutes the home side came close to retaking the lead, Burrows touching Jessop’s header onto the bar before quickly recovering to kick clear Lytham’s goal bound shot. A Jammy Lloyd free kick was headed away to Martin whose return header was just wide, and as the 90 minutes ran out Needham headed inches over the bar. With six minutes of extra time played the Blues clinched the tie. Again Martin was the provider as Callum Thorpe, who had just entered the fray powered in a shot which went in off the underside of the bar. Jammy Lloyd almost made it three, bringing a smart save from Clayton after good work from Dongo but the Blues saw out the game safely to pull off a memorable win.