A three-goal burst in four second-half minutes saw Newark Town pick up their first league victory since the beginning of December with a comfortable 4-1 win over Hucknall.
Eighteen-year-old Alex Hales produced another excellent display at centre-half after impressing against Linby. He slotted in next to Simon Greenfield as the Blues again tried a different combination in the middle of defence.
Town’s first attempt came from the unlikely boot of right-back George Paling, whose long-range effort was held at full stretch by keeper James Beddingham.
The keeper then narrowly beat Mark Ellison to a Chris Dobbie through-ball before the Blues took a 14th-minute lead.
Playmaker Ian Hillier was the architect, finding Ellison on the left then sprinting 40 yards to return Ellison’s cross into the danger zone, where Chris Self tucked the ball home.
Town thought they had doubled the lead, only for Ellison’s effort to be ruled offside.
The balance of play stayed firmly with Town and Newark deservedly led at half-time.
Despite Newark’s grip on the game, Hucknall went within inches of levelling on 61 minutes when Richards broke clear and rounded Attwood, but saw his goalbound shot cleared off the line by Hales, who then won the ball from a Hucknall player and set up another Town attack.
Newark’s purple patch arrived on 63 minutes as a Hillier corner was blasted home by the in-rushing Ricky North.
Hiller completed a hat-trick of assists when his cross was converted crisply by Chris Dobbie.
Hucknall were left stunned as Newark completed three goals in four minutes when Dobbie robbed Alex Arnold in the middle of the Hucknall half and advanced to steer the ball coolly past Beddingham.
Inspired by the goalrush, North headed a Hillier free-kick just wide, before Self and Hillier combined to put Ellison through, Beddingham’s fingertip save proving just enough.
A moment of slack marking gave the visitors a consolation goal on 78 minutes when Jack Lomax’ free-kick was well finished at the back post by Joshua Musshett.
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