Saturday 25th January
Ladies 1s – no game
Ladies 2s v West Bridgford 1s (Cup)
Despite losing earlier in the season to WB in the league, Newark started the cup match in a strong position and the confidence that a win was possible. With the addition of some players from the 1s, the team sheet looked solid and the home side started the game well.
Right from the first whistle, Newark applied pressure on WB, Bea Smith and Zara Littlewood used their speed and skill to take the ball into the WB defensive quarter, backed up by Mel Woods and Shanade Bradley who took an early hit to the foot. Tracey Rimmington looked aggressive on the wing whilst Zoe Smith controlled the midfield.
The first half played out to be an even match, with both sides having chances in the defensive quarters. Newark were unlucky not to win a number of penalty corners in the WB defence and at half time the score line remained 0-0.
After a half time break, Newark were slower on the ball, an earlier injury for Shanade meant the team were a player down and the Newark defence began to tire and lose concentration on the ball.
WB began to push players high, goal hanging in the Newark D which stretched the game out and added pressure on GK Lilly Dean and sweeper Hannah Bond.
After a string of fouls, Newark conceded a number of short corners but Rachel Vickers made some fantastic runs out of the goal teamed with incredible saves from Lilly. WB finally broke the defence after packing the D with attackers and Newark went 1-0 down.
A frustrated Newark fought back, showing fighting spirit but were unable to convert any shots on goal before the final whistle blew.
Player of the match – Lilly Dean
Ladies 3s v Boots 3's(Trophy)
Newark ladies 3s welcomed Boots ladies 3s in a Trophy match with a couple of new players in the team including Lydia Smith in goal. Also on the squad was Lydia‘s big sister Ellie who is always an asset to any team. Unfortunately Newark started poorly going down 1-0 within a couple of minutes. But heads didn’t drop and even though Boots had the majority of attacking play, the home defensive four of Jacky Nullis, Danny Moore, Polly Richards and Ellie Smith stood strong.
Midway through the first half, the away team scored a second goal from a penalty corner. The hosts continued to battle and, on a quick turnover in midfield, released Lucy Wade up the wing. She skipped past a couple of Boots defenders and her well struck shot evaded the goalkeeper much to the delight of player and team. However Boots struck again before half-time to make the score 1-3 at the break. Buoyed by their goal, Newark were up for a fight and battling play by Lauren Venables and Imogen Kennett in the centre created several attacking opportunities and resulted in a Newark short corner. Up stepped Ellie Smith to deliver a trademark drag flick which was saved mid-air by Boots defender only to fall at Ellie’s feet and for her to release a vicious reverse stick strike into the corner of the goal. Jubilation!
As the game continued with relentless Boots pressure the visitors finally secured a fourth goal from a penalty corner.
But Newark (and Ellie) were not deterred and as they pushed for more goals in the last few minutes, Ellie skilfully guided the ball into the ‘D’ and torpedoed another reverse stick shot into the top corner. Sadly Newark didn’t manage to score again before the whistle, but the team were delighted by the result and their unwavering determination.
Player: Ellie Smith
Goals: Lucy Wade, Ellie Smith (2)
Ladies 4s vs Boots 5s (Plate) The game swiftly started with a Boots push back, Newark making excellent progress up the pitch from the first whistle. The first twenty minutes of the first half was very close, with Newark showing slight dominance and scoring an early goal. Hannah made some nice passes to Lucy from out of the D, which Lucy then drove up the wing with skill. Soon, Boots began to fight back, making their way into the Newark half. The Newark defenders did well keeping a firm structure but despite this, Boots managed to score a goal with a deflection on the back post slipping the past the Newark keeper Breagha. Throughout the last 20 minutes of the first half, Boots managed to score another goal from a short corner. Holly worked well in defence, spreading the ball wide at the Newark 16-yard hit, but Newark soon went 2-1 down. In the second half, Newark came back stronger and kept their heads up more for passes to different spaces along the pitch. Frankie and Georgia made some nice passes and runs in the centre, to then passed the ball to Alison and Sam near the Boots D. But unfortunately, the hard work of the Newark players did not result in another goal. Despite Newark having more “want” for the ball, Boots still had the upper hand, and Newark began to play more of a defensive game again, conceding several short corners. Moira made some excellent clearances, getting rid of the pressure on the defenders but Boots had some cracking shots on goal resulting in an 8-1 loss for the home side.
Newark played very well this week, working more as a team, and getting more comfortable with how different players work around the pitch. Player of the Match - George Redican
Mens 1sts v North Notts 2s
The men’s 1sts were back on form beating North Notts 3-0 at the weekend.
Men's 2s v Derwent 2s
Newark lost 5-1 despite it being 1-1 at half time after a goal from Paul Halfpenny. M.O.M: Ben Bradley
Men’s 3s v Mansfield 4s
Captain Seb Hufton came back into the side this week after missing last week’s victory and put in a man of the match performance and chipped in with 4 goals in the 3s 13-0 demolition of local rivals Mansfield. Newark dominated from start to finish with the goals spread among the team with no fewer than 8 different goal scorers.
David Beedham feeling a little more spritely this week had opportunities to make it 9 scorers but despite an early night last night was unable to find the net (but at least it was in full focus this week)
Martin Tustin crowned his comeback from injury with his first ever goal in only his first full season of hockey and at 50+ is showing that it’s not all about the youth. Tustin should have ended the game with at least a brace but was denied by Thomas Shaw who poached his goal bound effort on the line. Shaws defence goes something like this “I didn’t know where the post was so had to make sure” this would be fine if Tom hadn’t spent most of his hockey career as a goal keeper, a position you would think would make knowing where the posts were quite important.
A big hat- trick avoidance mention must go to Tim Mcmanus but despite missing out on a 3rd goal did put in a fantastic performance turning provider on a number of occasions. The other brace came from Cameron Roberts who is proving deadly from close range and gives Newark another option up front.
Honourable mention to vice-captain Dan Jackson who would have scored the goal of the game had his strike after a blazing run down the right not been superbly saved by a diving reaction save from the Mansfield keeper.
Newark would have hoped for a tougher test in readiness for next week’s top of the table clash with Trent University but never the less it was a great team performance and brilliant win, finally turning the many chances they create into goals.
MoM Seb Hufton
Goal scorers - Craig Jones, Seb Hufton x 4, Tim Mcmanus x 2, Cameron Roberts x 2 Willis Gent, Oscar Tunnicliffe, Martin Tustin and Tom Shaw
Sunday 26th January
Newark Mixed v West Bridgford
Won 6 - 4
4-2 down at half time good comeback in 2nd half
Goal Scorers:- Harry Beedham (3), Ben Eagles, Alex Davies, Kyle Faulkner