Report

In the oft quoted words of Jimmy Greaves “Football’s a funny old game”, but there were few smiles in the Newark Town camp after this below par display which puts an unexpected and severe dent in their title aspirations. After two convincing wins over the same opposition, this might have seemed to be a formality, but at an almost deserted Watnall Road a third success rarely looked likely.

Hucknall almost provided Town with the perfect start, as Fowler launched a lofted back pass which cleared keeper Yates and shaved the outside of a post. Ricky Brewer clipped the crossbar from a free kick and Dom Swingler volleyed a Craig Roche cross into the side netting, but the Blues’ early pressure didn’t produce a goal. Their prospects weren’t improved when Ben Porter limped off  with a pulled hamstring with just 10 minutes gone. George Paling beat his full back to put Callum Fraser in the clear, but his curling shot was inches to high. Gary Attwood’s first involvement came on 25 minutes, as Aikman slipped the ball to Crisp whose close range shot was well turned away. However, from the resulting corner, Henry blasted the ball into the roof of the net to give the home side an unlikely lead. Great vision from the Town keeper put Roche away on the right, and his pass inside was clipped on to the underside of the bar by Fraser, the ball bouncing to safety. Town were unable to exercise their usual grip on midfield, with many balls being overhit in the strong wind. Fraser again went close, his neat turn and volley beating Yates, but also the post.

Things didn’t improve after the break. There were strong claims that Yates had handled outside the area as he blocked a cross from Swingler, but they were waved away. Hucknall were able to snuff out any threat from the Blues, who were showing few signs of turning things round. Martin Wilson found himself in a good position in the area from a Jammy Lloyd free kick, but again the chance went begging. Ian Hillier’s appearance briefly raised hopes, his first involvement giving Swingler an opportunity, but his shot was hacked off the line by Pheasant. Swingler then brought a diving save from Yates who deflected the ball narrowly clear of the inrushing Fraser.Newarkfell further behind on 76 minutes, Wallace running through from a suspiciously offside position to beat Attwood from close range. The Blues did eventually find the net in the third minute of stoppage time, Hillier knocking in the ball from the left side of the penalty area for Swingler to run the ball home. With the final whistle being blown on the restart, this was barely a consolation.

Tony Joynes was understandably disappointed with the display but gave credit to the home side. “We were poor today, and  perhaps a little over confident. Hucknall played us very well, although we had several chances which weren’t taken. We’re usually stronger in the second half, but Hucknall did to us what we usually do to the opposition. My job now is to raise the team for what will be a tough game at Yorkshire Main on Wednesday.”

Richard Lane