Catch a Match

Previewing this weekend’s local sport

 Football starts the new year with Newark Town traveling down the A1 to play Grantham Town in the United Counties League match of the day. “The Blues” sit five points ahead of “The Gingerbreads” but importantly Grantham have four matches in hand.

The home side have only been beaten once at The Meres all season, an F.A. Cup tie way back in August against, you’ve guessed it Newark Town.

The concern for our locals is their current away form is not great but cheered on by a boisterous traveling support there is no reason why they cannot repeat that summertime victory.

Meanwhile across town Newark & Sherwood United continue their efforts to to remain in step five when they welcome Eastwood to Dickens Road. “The Highwaymen” are on their best run of the season with only one defeat in their last six league games while their opponents have moved into the play-off places after a change of manager and a run of one league defeat since the end of October.

In Division One Southwell City make the short journey to Regatta Way and a match up with West Bridgford. Cut sit comfortably in mid-table while their hosts are hovering above the relegation zone. Jonny Upton’s boys are enjoying their travels having only lost twice on the road since October and should start the the new year with another three-point haul.

The Notts F.A. Saturday Senior Trophy is down to its last sixteen clubs, this this the competition that throws every club in the county below step five into the same hat.   We have two local representatives remaining, Collingham will be hoping to rescue their season with a good cup run and should ease past third division Attenborough at Station Road while at Phoenix Park Newark & Sherwood Reserves host Division One outfit AC United, the reserves are the underdogs but after disposing of Premier outfit Ruddington in the last round confidence will be high. Both the cup-ties are 2.00pm kick-offs.

Christmas and New Year did not stop the Newark parkruners and this Saturday marks their fifth outing in twelve days and they are out again at 9.00, frost permitting.

Away from football and running the first sport to return after the festive season is surprisingly what many think as a summer sport, Newark Tennis Clubs men traveling to Woodthorpe in the Notts Winter League, it is billed as a 10.00am start, hope there is no frost.