Newark Town v Old Mags

You know you’re a little crazy when you get up on a cold winters morning to watch football but when it decides to pour with rain and its ice cold and your wet through to the very bone then you fear for your sanity. So on Sunday morning it was worthy of the challenge of standing wet for 90 minutes to watch the town play well and progress through to the semi-final of the Wille Hall Cup.

It was a game that the Town completely dominated and the score line could have been at least double that record if the Old Mags goal was not so well defended overseen by the keeper jack Smithson who had an excellent game.

Last weeks double hat trick hero Louis Cree was not to score but nevertheless he was greatly influential in finding space and then running at the defence with pace in fact it was Louis who became the goal provider for the two goals sored before half time one from within the box and from four yards by Simon Greenfield directed into the net from a Louis pass and the second an extremely well taken goal from 20 meters slotted into the top of the net from Jay McQuaid after another fine Louis Cree pass. H.T. 2-0

With twenty minutes remaining of the second half a direct free kick was awarded to Newark twenty yards out from goal. After Stefan Bilyk who had had a good solid game in mid-field having made the team tick at times with some precise passing he stepped up, and drove the ball firmly into the bottom left of the onion bag making it 3-0.

Three incidents are worth recording Lewis Poole after a lengthy knee injury seems to be on the road to recovery and has publicly stated now that he is to start training and jogging. And some further good news in that one of the Towns most gifted individual James Fowlds is also on the road to recovery given his pre-match display of running with the ball and on target shots made at goal. Finally there was one off the longest ever recorded UK slide tackles – in mud, mud, glorious mud - recorded when Simon Greenfield just like a baby Hippo and his sixteen stone hit the ground at twelve miles an hour and slid, not only did the defender and ball going flying but so to Simon thirty yards and across the touch line almost demolition the park bench. The smile on Simon’s face after that incident was to behold and shows that he still loves playing his football irrespective of the ice- cold damp weather it was certainly enjoyed by all - a joy for all to see – it reminds why we bother to turn up to watch when the weather is below freezing and wet.

Man of the Match was awarded again to the irrepressible Liam Warner.

Some excellent Refereeing from Rob Townsend who was awarded by both teams I believe 186 out of 200 for his fine display and good humour. Well done Rob.

A good overall team performance and a slot in the draw for the big trophy that Town are the holders of from last season.

Well done – Up the Blues.