FA Vase second qualifying round: Newark Town manager Luke Parsons looking forward to Southwell City tie

Newark Town manager Luke Parsons is anticipating an entertaining local derby in the FA Vase this weekend.

The Blues host Southwell City in a second qualifying round tie on Saturday (3pm).

The sides know each other well from league meetings in recent years.

They’re in different divisions these days but the Vase draw has given the local rivals a chance to write another chapter in a lively series of games.

“We know a lot about them,” said Parsons.

“We’ve played them over the past two seasons, when we were in the same league, and they’ve always been hotly contested games.

“Every time we’ve played them at home we’ve scored in the last minute to win and every time we’ve played them away, which should suit them more, we’ve managed to score four or five.

“This game is at our place, which suits us, but it’s never easy playing Southwell.

“Even when we were in the top two or three and they were in the bottom two or three, they made it so difficult for us.

“We used to play against each other on Sundays as well, when they were Wheatsheaf, and they’ve got pretty much the same lads, so that rivalry is instilled.

“I expect it will be a hot game again and hopefully we’ll come away with a win but it is a team we do struggle against.

“Everyone wants to play in local derbies but form and everything goes out the window.

“It doesn’t matter where you are in the table or whether you’re a league above.”

Comeback kings Newark fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 with Bourne in United Counties Premier Division North last weekend.

The Blues have made a habit of fighting back in games this season and were at it again as Louis Czerwak’s cracker gave them hope before Ryan Smith levelled in injury time from a Sam Wright cross.

“It shows the character of the side again,” said Parsons, whose team then won 4-0 at home to Skegness in the league on Wednesday night.

“I congratulated the lads afterwards but I was slightly disappointed because we were the better side in my opinion but we’re having to go behind before we start attacking and taking our chances.

“But Bourne are a good physical team, an experienced UCL side who won our league last year, so on the balance of play, if you’re 2-0 down with 15 minutes to go, every manager would snap your hand off for a point.

“I’ve never been involved in a squad like it, whether that’s playing or managing.

“Most teams roll over when the going gets tough but we’ve got that never-say-die attitude.

“We let the shackles off and show what a good team we are and what togetherness we have.

“It’s something I’ve tried to instil in the team but even I didn’t expect this level of character.

“I just feel we haven’t got any egos in the dressing room.

“The players are here to give their all and that’s something I’ve always prided myself on.

“They give me everything. We’re obviously going to lose matches, when the quality isn’t there, but as long as they give 100% week in, week out, we’ll pick up lots of points along the way.”