Newark Town
Another routine win for Town as they were scarcely troubled by a struggling Appleby Frodingham side who offered little in terms of resistance, a position in which Newark found themselves in the not too distant past. To be honest, Town were in a different class as they ran in seven goals for the seventh time this season.
Richard Lane reports on a match that Newark had to win;
Jack Beckett started after his move across town, with James Evans and Tom Moore returning to the back four.
The home side’s tactics were clear to see from the start as they packed their defence in an attempt to keep the Blues at bay. A fourth minute free kick from George Asplin came back off the face of the bar as Newark applied constant pressure, with Nathan Burrows little more than a spectator. It took 22 minutes for the defence to crack, Jammy Lloyd heading home a Craig Bridge free kick for his second goal in as many matches since his return. It didn’t take long for the second goal to arrive, as three minutes later Town’s deadly duo struck again, Asplin’s cross being headed past keeper Harris by Lewis Chambers. Tyler Martin almost got another minutes later as he charged down a clearance, the ball running inches wide of the post. Appleby were now definitely on the back foot as Chambers struck again in the 33rd minute, lobbing the keeper after the ball was played in from the right. Asplin saw a shot cleared off the line by Craig before swivelling on the edge of the area and launching the ball into the top corner deep into first half stoppage time.
Jonny Wiles replaced Bridge at half time and set up Newark’s fifth goal on 49 minutes as he found Chambers in the middle of the penalty area, who, although surrounded by four defenders, managed to find space to fire past the keeper. Martin was again unlucky as a good block by McArdle stopped his goalbound shot, but he then became the supplier on 59 minutes as his ball in from the right picked out Asplin, whose shot looped over the oncoming keeper. The final goal of the game arrived on 62 minutes, Lloyd’s challenge on Harris allowing the ball to run to Asplin, who looked suspiciously offside, to eagerly complete his own hat trick. Town then made a couple of substitutions, and although they continued to press hard for more goals, they weren’t forthcoming, Lloyd coming nearest when he headed inches over from an Asplin corner.
Town’s next match sees the travel to Thorne Colliery on Saturday, who will pose a greater threat than yesterday’s opposition as the demonstrated in their 4-4 draw at the YMCA earlier in the season. Newark lost six points this week as Renishaw Rangers’ withdrawal from the league was confirmed.
TEAM – Burrows, Munton (Stevens), Moore, Evans, Lewis, Lloyd, Asplin, Beckett, Chambers (Job), Bridge (Wiles), T Martin
ATTENDANCE 36