Town march on in national FA Vase
A date with Kimberley Town or Gornal Athletic awaits Newark Town in the second qualifying round of the FA Vase after an excellent second half display saw them beat Midlands Combination visitors Meir KA 3-1 at Collingham’s Station Road ground on Saturday.
With Chris Self suspended, Darren Baldwin moved back up front and Ian Wade returned to the starting line-up on the right hand side of midfield.
The game had a dramatic start as The Blues took the lead in the fifth minute when Sam Wilford ran onto a Simon Ellison flick to power the ball into the top corner from 20 yards.
Just 30 seconds later the visitors from Stoke were level as the Town defence failed to deal with a cross and the ball was scrambled home.
The game settled down with Meir looking dangerous going forward but without creating any clear-cut chances and at the other end Mark Ellison twice went close for Town as the 1-1 scoreline at half-time pretty much reflected the pattern of the game.
Town got the boost they needed two minutes after the break when Baldwin was put through and he went on to beat the keeper to restore the home side’s lead.
Town keeper Craig Lamb made a couple of good saves before Town took a grip on the game, and it was no surprise when in the 67th minute Simon Ellison, after being put through by his brother Mark who had won the ball in midfield, shimmied past two defenders to score the goal that made the tie safe.
Manager Rupert Thomas said: “I was especially pleased with our fitness level as in the last 15 minutes we looked much the stronger side.
“Craig Lamb again did all he had to do in goal competently and it was pleasing to see youngsters Sam Wilford and Adam Kettleborough hold their own against higher level opposition, while the senior players did no less than I expected of them.”
Town: Craig Lamb; Ben Barnard; Adam Kettleborough; Mark Blant; Gareth Dobb; Dave Issott; Ian Wade (James Trentini); Mark Ellison; Simon Ellison; Darren Baldwin (James Morris); Sam Wilford.
Kinsley Boys 1 - Southwell City 1
Southwell City made their first visit to recently promoted Kinsley Boys and came away with a well earned point in the Central League Supreme Division, but they will feel that it was two points lost rather than one point won after a late equaliser.
City opened the scoring on 27 minutes when Tom McDonald made another decisive run down the right-hand side and crossed the ball perfectly and, despite calls from the Kinsley keeper Dale Walston, defender Darren Field chested the ball into his own net.
City had chances to extend their lead on several occasions, but it wasn’t to be, and the second half saw Kinsley press forward and finally get their reward when Daniel Burton latched on to a loose ball just inside City’s area and he prodded the ball past City keeper Darren Sharpe with the full-time whistle imminent.
Newark Flowserve 1 - Phoenix Sports 0
Newark Flowserve entertained Phoenix Sport and Social from Rotherham on a pitch that after all the rain was in fantastic condition and a credit to the groundsman Colin Briggs.
His efforts and those of the players were rewarded with all three points, but the final scoreline could and should have been more convincing if the home players had found their shooting boots.
In the end the goal that made all the difference came five minutes before the break when Danny Purves and Joe Sharp broke down the left and Sharp’s shot was well saved by the keeper and a defender cleared the ball out of the area.
It fell to Rob Gregory on the angle of the box and he hit a dipping 25-yarder into the roof of the net to make it three goals in four starts.
