4-0 victory over Grantham Town Academy sees Newark Town extend their winning run to seven games

A SHORT trip down the A1 saw New-ark Town secure their seventh victory in a row after they defeated Grantham Town Academy 4-0.

Captain Lewis Chambers was back after being absent for a couple of games.

The Blues skipper is only a handful of goals away from breaking his team’s top goalscorer record.

Chambers headed one in during the first 15 minutes but the goal was disallowed after being ruled offside.

The Newark captain continued to threaten the goal, joined by Jack Beckett who also had some good attempts in the first-half.

Grantham had a good opportunity in a passage of play that saw a long shot executed before some good follow-up attacks challenged goalkeeper Harry Chapman make some pivotal saves.

Both teams went into the break goal-less.

It was a completely different game in the second-half as Newark Town came out with everything to play for as they looked to extend their undefeated record.

Almost immediately, Beckett got a goal thanks to a lovely George Asplin assist.

Beckett was sent off in the 64th after receiving a red card and the Blues were forced to struggle on with only ten men.

However, Newark Town were undeterred, as Rory Harrison struck their second goal with a shot from 20 yards out.

Alex Hales who celebrated his birthday the day before the game got himself a belated present as he hit the third for the Blues.

Substitute Lucas Coterill came on and made an immediate impact as he scored Newark’s final goal just two minutes after arriving on the pitch.

Newark Town manager Luke Parsons said the first-half was a frustrating affair.

“To be fair to Grantham, they should have been up 1-0 at half-time but our keeper Harry Chapman saved a brilliant shot,” said Parsons.

“I said to the lads at half-time that we weren’t playing how we wanted to play, we had to relax, and in the second-half we played our natural game.”

“When we went down to ten men and we reacted well. We had our backs to the wall, we switched tactics, which we wanted to do anyway, and that paid off for us.

“It was another clean sheet for the team, we move into second and the lads deserve to be where we are right now.

“We are a long way past where we thought we would be after being promoted last season.

“At the start of the season we thought mid-table would be good but we are now in contention for the play-offs, which is a great achievement.”

Parsons cited the atmosphere of the club from the chairman down as a key reason for the first-team success.

“Everything is really positive at the moment, and we have just won team of the month in our division for December after winning four from four,” he said.

Town will now travel to play Saffron Dynamo at their Cambridge Road ground on Saturday, (kick-off 3pm).