16 game unbeaten streak at the YMCA Activity Village over for Newark Town as Dunkirk beat them 5-2 in United Counties League Division One fixture

A sixteen-game unbeaten streak at home that saw a side turn their pitch into a fortress has ended — after Newark Town lost 5-2 to Dunkirk in the United Counties League Division One.

The streak went back to last season when Newark Town lost 3-2 to the Division One champions Aylestone Park who secured promotion with the win on April 8, this year.

Since then, The Blues had held out time and again for an admirable streak against all opponents who set foot in the YMCA Activity Village in Newark.

However, it wasn't to be their night as a dangerous Dunkirk side led by hat-trick-scoring Jack Thatcher caused an upset.

Thatcher hit all three of his goals in the first-half — putting Dunkirk up 3-1 at half-time — with his first coming in the 17th minute.

Newark's Ryan Smith responded eight minutes after Thatcher's first to tie the game at 1-1 before the Dunkirk player slotted two in the 41st and 43rd minutes respectively.

Newark Town came off the pitch down 3-1 at half-time with most of the 148 in attendance quite surprised at the mid-way outcome.

It was an uncharacteristic first-half from The Blues who did not look their usual free-scoring, flowing, attacking selves in the first 45 minutes.

Andrew Tsolakis put another nail in the coffin for the home side as he extended Dunkirk's lead to 4-1 in the 60th minute.

Elliot King clawed one back for the hosts to put the score at 4-2 in the 67th minute and Newark started to look like they could get back into the game.

Declan Brown extended the visitor's lead to 5-2 in the 90th minute as The Blues continued to try.

A minute later King had a goal disallowed after the Dunkirk keeper was allegedly fouled.

With three goals up, it was too big a hill for Newark to climb and when the final whistle blew minutes later, Dunkirk were the team walking away with the three points.

Newark Town will now host the Blue Stripe Derby against Southwell City on December 27 (kick-off 7.45pm).

The Blues will have a donation bucket for Zebra's player Ed Munton who recently suffered a double leg break while playing for Southwell.