Newark Town v Flowserve

It is always difficult to accept your first defeat but for the Town in Newark that is after playing around fifty league and cup games having been undefeated. But sometimes also it is good to lose, and maybe this might now help players focus on the need the give their all from the kick-off in the remain games this season, including in the Notts cup final that Town are scheduled to play in Mansfield in April.

No excuses over the defeat Flowserve are a team that play as a solid unit who have two outstanding quality forwards in Tyler Martin and Daryl Price who certainly know where the goal is.

The first half was evenly matched but a fine shot by Grant Reed on 32 minutes gave Flowserve the advantage 0-1 shortly after Town lost a forward when Bobby Lee was given his marching orders for a second booking leaving his team down to 10 players for the remaining 85 minutes of football - with the extra time. HT 0-1

For the first 20 minutes of the second half Flowserve were looking the better team and probably deservedly so they stretched their lead on 68 minute with an effort from Curtis Price 0-2.

With about 25 minutes remaining Flowserve scored another that some thought was good-night-Vienna but then as if by magic Town woke up and pressed forward led by the Captain Luke Parsons who had an outstanding game. Three goals followed from the Captain, a penalty scored by Liam Warner and a cheeky shot from 18 yards by Ben Lund brought the scores level to 3-3. Shortly after the Referee blew for full time but if there was another five minutes remaining Town had the momentum to have won. FT 3-3

Thirty minutes of extra time proved too much for the ten man Town an excellent strike from a free kick 22 yards out by Daryl Price and a shot from some distance from Tyler Martin proved too much for Newark.

Well done Flowserve for your performance and win. For Town they need to take away some positives especially how they fought back to level the scores at 90 minutes.

Confidence is probably the most important ingredient is football for success but complacency in achievements can mean that not enough effort is thought necessary to win. Town still have a chance of the treble – premier league, willie Hall cup and the Notts cup but to win these highly prized trophies there may need to be an application of better attitude from the very start for each of the remaining games.

Well done Newark whilst this was a defeat there were I am sure some lessons learnt.