Newark Town 2-1 Club Thorne Colliery (Central Midlands League Floodlit Cup Round One) 08.12.21

Third welcome second of the Central Midlands League Premier North clashed in the opening round of the CML Floodlit Cup in midweek, and it was as tight an affair as you’d expect, the hosts snatching victory with a goal eight minutes from time from substitute, Ben Newman.

It would be the former leaders of the Premier North who’d start the slightly better of the two sides, but both would have limited chances in the quarter of the game, the visitors also seeing the first booking received, after just five minutes.

After the visitors saw a free-kick flash wide of Haywood’s goal on fifteen, the hosts’ upped the ante when first Elliott Burrell, then Rhys Lewis, would see efforts come to naught, either side of the twenty minute mark, before the deadlock was finally broken.

A goalmouth scramble around twenty-five minutes, resulting in an eventual shot from Jonny Wiles, that would be deflected home by Lewis Chambers for the opening salvo, and, although it stayed that way until late in the second, chances kept flowing, for both sides.

Mason Rhiney would be seen to have a couple of quick-fire chances late in the first period, whilst Wiles would see a low drive rebound off the visiting ‘keeper before Burrell heads home, only to be pulled offside.

Then, shortly after the break, Burrell, with both efforts, would see his first curl over the visitors crossbar, and the second, minutes later, shoot wide of a scrambling ‘keeper’s upright.

Just before the hour mark, the hosts’ manager, Nathan Arnold, would bring on Ben Newman, for Jackson Buckthorp, a move that would prove inspiring later on, whilst either side of that hour mark both sides would be seen to have chances ahead of the equaliser.

With sixty-six minutes on the clock, a long ball from the visitors, into the Newark box, would ricochet about before James Walker would be seen to fire home the equalising goal, on the half-volley

Both Rhiney, and James Gardener, along with Chamber, would see chances go begging as the game ticked into the final twenty minutes, both sides searching, probing, for what would likely be a late winner, one which would go in favour of the hosts.

Then, and with just eight minutes left on the clock, it would be the hosts that would snatch said winner, latching onto an assist from Chambers inside the box, and finishing well to claim a 2-1 win, and progress the hosts into the next round.

Next up for Newark Town, the visit of Nottinghamshire Senior League Foundation Division side, AFC Bull Farm, in the Notts FA Senior Trophy, on Saturday, 11 December.

Newark Town: Harry Haywood, Sidnei Costa, Ben Sharpe, Rhys Lewis, Sam Bartle, James Gardener, Jonny Wiles, Jackson Buckthorp (Ben Newman 59), Lewis Chambers, Mason Rhiney, Elliott Burrell (Gabriel Rattigan 70).

*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).

*Main image @bubstgway Newark celebrate during their win over Thorne.