Newark Town are through to the promotional play-off final after 3-2 win over Dunkirk and football neighbours Harrowby will meet them there after the Arrows shot down The Cobras in a surprising 4-1 result

There was edge of the seat action at the YMCA as Newark Town managed to scrape a 3-2 win against determined visitors Dunkirk in the United Counties League’s semi-final play-off.

The Dunkirk side refused to evacuate the game despite being down 3-0 as Richard Hannigan’s men came back to provide the crowd of 509 with a nail biting last half-hour of football action.

With the home support behind them, Luke Parsons’ Blues looked like they comfortably had the game in hand after leading 2-0 at the break and putting a third on the board early in the second-half before a brace from Jack Thatcher got his side back into the contest.

Jammy Lloyd opened the scoring for The Blue Submarine in the 23rd minute as the Newark Stalwart hit a lovely low drive into the left side of the net.

Dunkirk then had a good opportunity to equalise around ten minutes later when Newark keeper Theo Avery managed to pull off a spectacular save to keep the hosts up 1-0.

A free kick in the 36th minute saw Sam Wright ping it into the box as Rhys Lewis flew above the rest to head the ball home to double the lead for The Blues.

Back on the field after half-time and Alex Hales hit a pearler of a ball to score Newark’s third as it sailed past the Dunkirk keeper.

The home crowd were in jubilation as their side extended the lead to three and it looked like it Newark would run away with the result.

However, Dunkirk had other ideas and mounted a resurgence in the last 30 minutes of the match.

Hannigan’s side fired and the nail biting anxiety that rose around the ground was palpable as fans soon realised that the visitor’s had come to play.

Thatcher rose to the occasion as a nice ball from Matthew Hague gave him the opportunity to beat a defender and fire one across Avery to claim his side’s first in the 65th minute.

A penalty against Blue’s fullback Sam Bartle saw Jack Thatcher convert from the spot to get the visitor’s second goal on the board in the 72nd minute.

A collision in the last minutes of the game saw Avery take a nasty tumble as he ran out of the box against a Dunkirk attacker.

The goalkeeper managed to close out the game but had to seek medical attention afterwards.

It is hoped that he will be available for this Saturday’s play-off final against Harrowby.

As the final whistle blew, Newark Town had done enough to keep their promotion hopes alive.

Ever present danger George Asplin and goal scorer Alex Hales shared the man-of-the-match honours in the victory.

Dunkirk are now out of promotion contention but have had an excellent season during which they exceeded expectations.

Hannigan who managed at Ollerton Town for a short time before taking the Dunkirk job led his team to fourth place in the United Counties Division One table.

Harrowby are somewhat of a surprise inclusion in the final after achieving a comfortable 4-1 victory over highly fancied Clipstone.

The favourites — The Cobras, finished second in the table and were 20 points clear of Newark before going up against fifth-placed Arrows at home.

Former Newark Town player Elliot King was the danger man for Harrowby as he scored twice for the visitors in their three goal victory which took place before 298 people.

King will now play against his old team at the Newark YMCA Activity Village on Saturday in the promotion final play-off, (kick-off 3pm).

King has scored 24 goals this season and will undoubtedly be a focus of the Newark defence.

He was a popular figure at Newark whose supporters sang God Save The King whenever he found the net.

Newark fans will be hoping for no renditions of the national anthem in the upcoming final.

Harry Alcock is the top scorer for Harrowby in their current campaign with 26 goals and will also need to be marked tightly.

On the Newark side, captain Lewis Chambers who is his club’s all-time leading goal scorer has netted 26 times this season.

The winner of the match will be promoted to the Premier Division North competition in the United Counties League where they will go up against Newark and Sherwood United next season.

“We were on the right side of 3-2 this year,” said Newark Town manager Luke Parsons.

“Last year we were on the wrong side of that score line (during the promotion play-off match against Birstill United) so we know how it feels from Dunkirk’s point of view.

“The fans were absolutely superb, this is why we want the home draws because they are behind us from start to finish.

“I’ve tried to bring us altogether, the fans and the players as one unit.

“I think we have that, the fans are passionate about this club and the players love playing for them.

“That is what we are about and hopefully we can get the job done on Saturday.”