Eight goals scored, joint second in the table, and just thirteen points now behind leaders Aylestone Park, Luke Parsons’ Newark Town are flying in the United Counties Division One at present.
At home to lowly Rainworth Miners Welfare, the Blues only led 2-1 at the interval but, in the second period, turned on the style, hitting a further six goals, without reply, to register a huge, 8-1 win.
It would be home captain, Lewis Chambers, who’d get the scoring antics underway, registering after just five minutes, and, although Callum Fletcher levelled just ten minutes later, it would be the hosts who’d take in an interval lead when with ten remaining in the first, Tristan Drummond crossed for Jordan Haywood to volley home with his left foot.
Within five minutes of the restart, the hosts forced open the floodgates when first Alex Hales heads home the third, then George Asplin, who’d provided the assist for Hales’ goal, dusted himself off having being brought down in the box, slotted home the resulting spot-kick.
Before the hour was reached a further two goals were netted, Chambers with both to complete his hat-trick, the latter of those seeing him lob the visiting ‘keeper; Hales added his second of the afternoon, and Newark’s seventh, with a little over twenty left, before substitute Rory Harrison completed the scoring minutes later.
The result was to be a perfect wedding present for club chairman, Chris Wade, his side moving level on points with Bourne Town, and ahead of Birstall United, and Hucknall Town.
Newark Town – Harry Chapman, Tristan Drummond, Jordan Haywood (Ben Sharpe, 61_, Simon Biggs, Luke Andersen, Rhys Lewis, Jackson Buckthorp (Joe Aitken, 61), Alex Hales, Lewis Chambers (Rory Harrison, 61), Jesse Anderson, George Asplin
Newark would be one of numerous victors across the United Counties on Saturday afternoon; in the Premier Division, James Shaw bagged a brace as Kimberley Miners Welfare romped to a 4-0 win away to AFC Mansfield, Newark & Sherwood won 2-0 at Anstey Nomads, and Selston saw off the challenge of hosts Eastwood CFC, they sharing five goals as Declan Sorrell with the winner twenty minutes from time.
Sherwood Colliery meanwhile are the highest of the Nottinghamshire clubs in the UCL, they now within eight points of second place Nomads following a 2-1 home win over lowly Leicester Nirvana; goalless at the break, the visitors opened the scoring early in the second period before the Colliers snatched victory in the final ten, Charlie Taylor (84) and Kieran Wells (89) netting.
Alongside Newark’s demolition of Rainworth there was home wins elsewhere, pretty much across the board, Gedling Miners Welfare the only side losing, 2-0 at home to Harrowby United.
Radford, courtesy of a goal midway through the second period by Jevin Seaton, defeated leaders Aylestone Park 1-0, Hucknall Town beat Saffron Dynamo 2-0, and Clifton All Whites saw off Dunkirk 2-1, whilst Clipstone, Southwell City, and West Bridgford, all scored three apiece.
Of the latter three, Clipstone won 3-0 at home to Bourne Town, Liam Moran scored twice as Southwell defeated Holwell Sports 3-0, and West Bridgford won 3-1 at home to Kirby Muxloe.
Elsewhere across Nottinghamshire, there were a few, mixed results as a big goal from Gregg Smith afforded hosts Basford United the points in the Southern League Central, winning 1-0 at home to St. Ives Town.
In the Norther Premier East, Worksop Town’s run continued, just, when they were held to a 2-2 draw away to Grimsby Borough, Jay Rollins and Terry Hawkridge netting, Adam Drury equalising with minutes remaining, and Carlton Town fell to a 2-1 loss when home to ten-man North Shields, they also conceding a late goal as Callum Larmouth snatched the winner at the death.
This season’s Nottinghamshire FA Senior Trophy final will be between that of Notts Senior League duo, Stapleford Town and Keyworth United, after they defeated Central Midlands League pair, Retford United, and Linby Colliery Welfare, 3-1, and 4-0, respectively, Ryan Smith with a brace in the latter.
Meanwhile, in the Northern Counties East Division One, Dronfield Town defeated Ollerton Town 1-0, and Retford were held to a goalless draw away to Shirebrook Town; the Central Midlands would see away wins for both SJR Worksop, in the North, away to Collingham, and Teversal at Cromford & Wirksworth, in the South both 3-2, as Nottingham also won when hosting South Normanton.
Wollaton continue to lead the way in the Notts Senior League after they won 2-1 at home to FC Sez, whilst Blair Anderson’s brace helped second place Sandiacre Town to a 4-1 win over visiting Ravenshead.
Woodthorpe Park Rangers, in third, were held to a goalless draw away to Dunkirk, whilst Borrowash Victoria claimed a 2-0 win at Top Valley; in the NSL’s Senior Cup, the semi-final draw sees that of East Leake Robins hosting Keyworth United, and Sandiacre welcoming Ruddington Village (dates tbc).
*Article provided by Peter Mann (Senior Correspondent).
*Main image @NewarkTownFC Newark skipper Lewis Chambers celebrates with fans.
