Newark Town v Collingham

It was sunny yet again down Devon Park and the football played was also bright and cheerful.

It was said by some last year that Newark were only winning games because they were playing in the second division. Well those critics might be rightly now silenced as having now been moved this season to the Premier league they have after Sundays victory, played four games in that league and won four. So since their formation at the beginning of last season they have actually played seven and beaten seven premier league teams.

Of course everyone wants to beat an unbeaten side and they raise their game accordingly but Newark must be congratulated in the manner in which they approach each game and there was no exception on Sunday.

Collingham are a good young side who keep their shape and who play some nice football but in the early thirty minutes or so of this game it was town who controlled the pace. It was particular good to see an understanding developing between Liam Warner and Stefan Bilyk on Sunday their efforts down the right-hand-side of midfield left Collingham's defence at times wishing it was Monday. Some excellent inter-passing between Stefan and Liam resulted in a number of chances being created with balls driven hard and lower across the penalty area unfortunately it was to be one of those games were the score-line does not fully reflect the flow of the play and we were left wondering at times whether despite all the attacks the game might finish goalless.

On the 40 minute a free-kick was awarded to Town a couple of metres outside the penalty area. Stefan Bilyk confidently placed the ball around the oppositions wall and wide of the keeper firmly into the onion bag. At half-time it was 1-0.

Town were missing their captain Luke Parsons who whilst playing for the Town's Saturday side had torn an adductor muscle he was missed so its hoped that his injury is only a mild groin strain and that he will be back leading his team shortly.

The second half produced some further nice football from both sides. Occasionally Town went into ''the zone'' where they were stroking the ball about looking individually for space then asking for the ball and 'miracle-of-miracles' they were actually talking to each other and thus creating chances but 'the 'zone' was unfortunately only fully achieved for about 5 minutes it would be good to see much more of this as you can almost sense the enjoyment to be had playing in such a manner.

Liam Warner, deserved his goal scored in the 73 minute Liam followed through a lose ball in the penalty area to direct it nicely wide of the keeper. Liam, was yet again awarded man-of -match for his running, tackling, heading, chesting and for his perplexing but affective footwork an all-round excellent performance and attitude.

Lewis Poole, coming on in the second half had a solid game but he tried on one occasion levitating horizontally at a height of 100 cm from the ground and at a speed in the region of 30 mph. In the 1970s Norman Hunter 'bite-your-legs' as he was known, often stifled the oppositions attack with such tackles but today fortunately or unfortunately dependant on your point of views such tackles can result in a yellow card or even worst. Lewis, certainly likes the colours collecting a yellow whilst wearing his shiny light blue boots but he had complained before kick-off saying he was disappointed that the pink kit was worn as his boots did not match. So we might see Lewis wearing his pink boots this Sunday.

It is a pleasure to watch Newark play football a beautiful game indeed.

Well done Newark Town you are currently sitting top of the premier league.