Newark Town 4 Grove FC 3

A beautiful Sunday morning greeted players of Newark and the Grove FC at the Tom Mann Pavilion for what was to be an exciting game.

Newark dominated the first half with their passing and running off the ball, and the score at half time, could have easily been higher than the 2-0 score line at the whistle.

Captain, Luke Parsons, commanded his defence as centre half and proved dangerous on Newark’s set pieces especially from corners and the long throw-ins that were regularly propelled into the oppositions penalty area by Martyn Rose, who had a cracking game.

If was from a Ben Lund, later awarded man-of-the-match, in-swinger corner, after just 11 minutes, that a scramble in the box resulted in Luke Parsons forcing the ball over the line. Ten minutes later a 30-yard throw-in by Martyn Rose found the head of the 6ft 5 inch Parsons who powered the ball into the net making it 2-0. After 30 minutes, the ball appeared to be over the goal line for a Newark third, after another high ball that the Grove seemed powerless to deal with, found the head of Liam Warner, the referee however ruled that the ball had in fact, not actually crossed that line.

The second half was a different affair with Grove using the long ball, through the middle of the Town’s defence that method combined with the speed of running of Wayne Ord caught Newark’s defenders by surprise and floundering at times. Alex Hales, known to his friend as, Panda, had a almost faltless game for the Grove in defence and in midfield often winning headers and making some nice passes to the Grove attack, for which, Panda was awarded man-of-the-match by the Newark team after the game . Three goals including a penalty followed in quick succession for the Grove were scored by Elliott Combes, Joe Hurst and Wayne Ord that put this side that were sitting on the top of the Premier Division before kick-off, deservedly ahead 2-3 and Newark on the back foot.

Three substitutes made after 70 minutes brought fresh legs and new energy to the Town’s game. Damien Lloyd, pushed from the left-hand side of midfield forward supported by some good passing by Billy Hurst. It was from one of these attacks that a cross was made and Bobby, the Rocket Lee, forced a header beyond the statue like keeper to bring the scores level at 3-3. Minutes later Bobby Lee known also as ‘himself’ fired in a Bobby Charlton type free kick from 20 yards that rattled the Grove’s cross bar. The hero of the day, was to be however, substitute Jimmy Rusby a long hopeful punt up field from defence, found Jimmy inside the Grove penalty area with only one-minute remaining, he coolly controlled the ball and then slotted his shot into an open net to give victory to the town by 4-3.

Up the Blues.

A tough game for next week as Town are scheduled to play RHP at Elm Avenue.