No fear in facing top two

Tony Joynes has insisted Newark Town will not be aiming for damage limitation when the top two teams in the Central Midlands League North visit Station Road.

After winning eight of their last nine league games, including a fine 1-0 triumph at third-placed Phoenix last week, Town welcome leaders Westella Hanson on Saturday (3pm) before hosting heavyweights AFC Mansfield in the Floodlit Cup on Wednesday.

Manager Joynes is well aware of the threat posed by Mansfield as they twice beat Newark in cup games last season.

But he said: “If we can put in the same performance as we did at Phoenix then I don’t see why we can’t win both games.”

Newark’s strong league form has encouraged Joynes to believe that Town can improve on their all-time high position of fifth last year, and he admitted the league remains his priority.

“It would be very nice to put one over on Mansfield given what happened last year, and this cup has greater significance for us since we were knocked out of the Senior Cup,” he said.

“But cup games are always for the players to enjoy as well.”