Newark Town win 3-2 against a determined Sandiacre Town in the United Counties League Division One

A solid effort from Newark Town saw them defeat Sandiacre Town 3-2 at home in the United Counties League Division One competition.

The Blues were unlucky not to win the game by several more goals with a penalty stopped and a netted goal ruled offside.

An attempt by Lucus Cotterill where he somehow managed to curl the ball around the post missed by the narrowest of margins.

Garry Doran in goal for the visitors pulled off some spectacular saves for The Saints throughout the game.

The keeper who was also the captain of the side for the match kept his side in it for large portions of the contest.

The culmination of all of these factors meant that the game was much tighter than expected.

However, to Sandiacre's credit, they were a much-improved side to the one that The Blues had faced in November.

The result of the match was in stark contrast to the 5-0 defeat handed out to Sandiacre at their home.

The Saints showed they were dangerous on the counterattack and are capable of scoring goals which they will hope to use to move forward out of the relegation zone soon.

Before the kick-off, a minute's applause was undertaken by the 167 in attendance to respectfully commemorate the life of former Newark Town chairman Paul Hatherley who died recently.

The Blues were without several key players for the match including Jonny Wiles, Joe Braithwaite, Alex Hales, and Sam Bartle.

One of the major strengths of the side this season has been the depth that has been added to the team by the club's management.

Manager Luke Parsons was able to adequately fill the gaps to field a good side against the visitors.

Sandiacre Town had Cyril Mensah make his debut for the squad with Perry Mcgrath back into the starting 11 after an absence and club captain Callum Clarke also returned but started from the bench.

The visitor's manager Nick Labatte was also on the bench as a player for the occasion.

The game started well-matched before Newark Town were awarded a penalty in the 13th minute.

Captain Lewis Chambers stepped up to the spot but it was saved by Doran.

From that point, Chambers stepped it up a gear doing everything he could to claw one back as he put in an impressive shift.

He soon got another chance and narrowly put a Harvey Grice ball wide but undettered he pressed on with a renewed determination.

The crowd didn't have to wait long as Chambers netted in the 17th minute and revealed an undershirt tribute to former chairman Paul Hatherley during the goal celebration.

Jack Henchcliffe pegged one back for the visitors off a corner and the game was equalised at 1-1 as the sides went off the pitch for the break.

Soon after the break Jammy Lloyd rose above a packed box and glanced a header off a Luke Andersen corner into the net to make it 2-1 in the 48th minute.

A fair bit of back and forth ensued for the next half hour as both sides tried to get onto the board.

Parsons brought on a new attacking front making several substitutions as the Newark Town manager looked to put the game beyond doubt.

The combined attack force of Elliot King and Lucus Cotterill nearly netted in the 83rd but the luck of the bar and good keeping kept the attempts out.

Doran who had been inspirational all game made a mistake in the 93rd minute when he was found too far from home after going on a run with the ball up the field.

His mistake was punished by Jackson Buckthorp who launched the ball from some way out and watched it go uncontested into the visitor's goal.

In the dying stages of the game, this put the score at 3-1 but Sandiacre refused to give up and again found the net in the 95th minute to make it 3-2.

Lamin Jasseygm was the man who got The Saints their second goal.

"Their performance was a credit to them," said Newark Town's manager Luke Parsons.

"They were a completely different team from when we met them in November.

"The way they attacked was different this time, they were very direct.

"They are obviously in the bottom three but if they keep performing like that and put in that level of effort they should be out of there soon."

Rhys Lewis was awarded the man-of-the-match for his efforts on the pitch.

Newark Town will now face Kirby Muxloe away on Saturday (kick-off 3pm).

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