Saturday 15th Feb
Ladies 1s v Belper
It was another gusty Saturday morning for the ladies 1s who were hoping to carry on last week’s success and take home 3 points against Belper. After losing to Belper earlier in the season, Newark faced a tough match in difficult conditions against a side fighting for promotion.
Belper applied pressure from the start of the match, sending several young wingers to goal hang in the Newark defensive quarter and sending hard balls through to try and bypass the Newark defence. Newark held the score line and began to settle into the match.
The play was scrappy, with both sides panicking on the ball and losing possession. Newark finally took their chances and worked the ball around the Belper midfield with some great runs from Rosie Staniforth and Bea Smith on the wings. Shanade Bradley and Sophie Chambers both had shots on but were unable to get past the Belper GK.
Belper were quick to turn the ball around and soon the Newark defence were under pressure from some quick Belper wingers leaving Georgina Barratt in goal exposed with a 2v1 situation in the D, but Barratt made some incredible saves; the score remained 0-0.
Belper increased the pressure on the Newark defence and soon won a number of penalty corners. The away side had several slick penalty corner routines but Belper finally put a goal away from open play after intercepting a Newark free hit.
After regrouping at half time, a frustrated Newark went into the second half eager to equalise. Belper switched their wingers who hung high, drawing the Newark defence with them and creating gaps in midfield. After ten minutes and several penalty corners, an aerial shot on goal which hit defender Anna Hall on the goal line resulted in a penalty flick for Belper, who made it 2-0.
Another goal shortly followed, despite the hard work of Newark defenders and GK and the game finished 3-0 to Belper.
Players of the match – Emily Crisp, Bea Smith, Anna Hall and Katherine Hawkins.
Ladies 2s v Beeston
Still chasing their first win of the season, Newark faced top of the league Beeston at home on Saturday. After a difficult first half, Beeston put 10 goals past Newark but only managed two in the second half.
A hard-fought match, Newark continue to fight through the season despite several injuries on the team.
Player of the match – Felicity Taylor-Peck
Ladies 4s v North Notts
After a string of unlucky matches, the 4s faced Boots at home on a blustery Saturday morning and with a full squad and a couple of players back for the school holidays, Newark had a strong side.
Right from the first whilst, Newark looked dangerous causing havoc in the Boots defensive half with some fantastic runs from youngsters Frankie, Jess, Georgia and Evie. Alison Sheldon added to the pressure, intercepting a number of North Notts free hits creating an overload in the attacking D.
It wasn’t long before Newark began to break the defence with some superb shots on goal and Jess Sheldon put away three goals in the first twenty minutes followed by a reverse stick shot from mum Alison.
Newark looked strong in midfield with Moira Chambers and Amy Crouch distributing the ball wide and into the D creating opportunities for the wingers resulting in numerous penalty corners. It was Sam Wade who struck the ball past the goalie taking it to 5-0, shortly followed by another making it 6-0 at half time.
A flustered North Notts calmed down the second half and the score remained 6-0, although Newark were unlucky not to increase their lead.
George Redcan and Moira cleared any chance of North Notts scoring and GK Breagha made some cracking saves where required, although on the whole Newark kept the ball well away from their defensive quarter.
A cracking game from a well-drilled team improving with every match.
Player of the match – Sam Wade
Men's 1 v South Notts 1
Won 4-3
Men’s 2s v Mansfield 2s
Newark welcomed Mansfield 2s to the Magnus looking to their 1st win of the season. With improvement shown the previous week against 2nd in the league optimism was high. Newark started strongly with good passing and looked strong at the back.
Newark opened the scoring through captain Simon Higgs who received the ball down the left and cut into the D and as the keeper moved to cut out the cross slipped the ball in the goal.
Newark doubled their lead from a short corner after initial save by keeper rebound went straight back to Dave Ellis who made no mistake 2nd time round. Mansfield scored 2 goals either side of half time but Newark did not let this slow them down and a ball into the D saw Doug Thompson get a timely deflection pass the Mansfield keeper.
Newark then held out for the win with some determined defending
Man of the match: Tom Linford
Men’s 3s v Buxton
Storm Dennis could not prevent the men’s 3s from claiming all three points in a fairly one sided affair at a very wet, very windy Buxton (usual weather when playing in Buxton although there is usually freezing conditions, sleet or snow so actually quite pleasant in comparison).
Newark started with intent and pressed hard from the start with striker Craig Joynes driving with the ball deep into the opposition half and eventually despite a few wraps around the ankles from an overzealous defender won a penalty corner. Unfortunately, nothing came of the resulting corner, but Newark showed their intent and carried on pushing.
It did not take long for Newark to register on the score sheet as the ball was won back in midfield by Willis Gent finding Craig Joynes who took on two defenders with an arcing run into the D and squared the ball to Logan Tustin who calmly finished passed a helpless keeper from close range.
Newark then briefly switched off and allowed the opposition a rare attack but stout defending marshalled by captain Dan Jackson (again standing in for Seb Hufton who was helping the 2s to their first win of the season against local rivals Mansfield) and sharp goalkeeping from Tim Gosling kept the home side out.
Newark soon had a second and not to be outshone by his son, Martin Tustin scored a superb strike from the acutest of angels to continue his fine run of form. (It was blatantly a cross, but it went in and they all count).
Halftime 2-0 Newark.
As has been the case this season Newark went into halftime in front but feeling they could have had more, however considering the weather conditions they were more than happy.
The second half continued with Newark in the ascendancy. Ciaran Logue as is now his trademark went on one of his piercing runs through the heart of the midfield to create himself a glorious shooting opportunity (now if someone could please teach him to shoot that would be useful).
The score remained 2-0 until Tim (new stick) McManus showed why he is a massively important part of this team with some great skill and determination to eliminate the keeper and set up Joynes for an easy tap in to an empty net (which he nearly fluffed but managed to bag his 14th goal of the season)
Newark as in the first half allowed Buxton a small period of possession but the hosts could not find a breakthrough and normal service was resumed with Newark mounting a series of attacks with Willis Gent and Oscar Tunnicliffe showing great skill in the centre of midfield. Despite this Newark had to wait until the dying seconds to make it 4-0. Joynes again provided driving into the D from a long corner and getting the upgrade to a penalty corner from which he received the ball top D and slipped it to Tom Shaw who slapped the ball into the backboard.
Notable mentions:
Newark were able today to field two father and son parings. How can I try to explain, the Tustin’s were joined by the Knox’s with the younger Knox (Jacob) in particular building on last week’s man of the match with increasingly confident performances. The older Knox also did something rarely seen even in his hay day and actually had a chance at goal but unfortunately could not convert.
Can’t go without mentioning Dave Beedham who after last week’s Viking analogy in the match report took to actually having a shave. Now the team feared this might cause a Samson effect (see samson and delilah) and he would have lost all his tackling ability but apparently, he never had any anyway, so it didn’t make a blind bit of difference
4-0 Newark
Goals from: Logan Tustin, Martin Tustin, Craig Joynes and Tom Shaw
Man of the match: Martin Tustin
Sunday 16th Feb
Ladies O35s v West Bridgford
Horrendous conditions for a match postponed by Storm Ciara only for the ladies to turn out in Storm Dennis. A tough match and well fought, the Newark side lost 7-0.
Player - Tracy Rimington and Katherine Hawkins Daisy - Hannah Bond and Anna Palfreyman