Newark Town on top
Richard Lane reports;
A convincing win against their Rotherham based opponents gave ample proof that the Blues can transfer the skills displayed on the playing surface at the YMCA Activity Village to less level surfaces.
With Lewis Chambers missing for the first time this season Kieran Job and George Asplin shared the attacking duties with Matt Gamble and Joe Braithwaite making their first starts in the league.
The opening quarter of an hour was rather disjointed as both teams struggled to come to terms with the chilly wind which blew across the pitch. Nathan Burrows was first into action, going down well to block Hepplestone, but with Town looking increasingly in control it was no surprise when they went ahead on 19 minutes. Craig Bridge’s shot on the turn was blocked by keeper Taylor, the ball reaching Rhys Lewis who lashed his shot into the far corner. A dreadful backpass from Hadfield almost let Job in before Newark increased their lead in the 32nd minute. This time it was Tom Moore whose drive was beaten away by Taylor, but again Lewis was well placed to thump the ball back across the keeper and into the same corner of the net. It was almost three a minute later Job, who improves with every game, just unable to stretch enough Asplin’s driven cross into the goal. Newark’s back four had dealt comfortably with Phoenix’s sporadic attacks, but four minutes before the interval Town had a major let-off as Suhail Hussein got the better of the defence and looked certain to score but somehow managed to find the side netting.
Luke Boddy and Asplin made way for Ed Munton and Tyler Martin at the start of the second half, Martin was soon in action as Job pulled the ball back from the line, the striker seeing his fierce tdrive fingertipped over the bar. Town went further ahead on 54 minutes, as Job’s right wing corner was firmly headed home by man of the match Dom Sibilski. The home team were by now totally dispirited as the Blues continued to dominate proceedings, the fourth goal coming in the 67th minute, Martin’s long ball forward to Job allowed him to bring the ball down before cutting inside and producing a cool finish to claim a deserved goal. Town wrapped up the scoring and the match on 77 minutes as Matt Gamble’s free kick was met first time by Martin, guiding the ball past the stranded keeper.
It was a doubly successful weekend for Newark as it was announced on Sunday that the 7-0 result in the recently abandoned game with Askern is to stand. This means that they now have a nine point lead over Dinnington Town who have three games in hand before next Saturday’s showdown between the two sides. Before that, however, Newark face Awsworth Villa in the third round of the Notts FA Senior Cup on Wednesday night at the YMCA Activity Village (7.30pm)
TEAM - Burrows, Moore, Sibilski, Evans, Braithwaite, Boddy, Job, Lewis, Bridge, Asplin, Gamble SUBS USED – Munton (for Boddy), T Martin (for Asplin), Stevens (for Bridge)
ATTENDANCE 33