Jim Todd reports
Last Friday night again saw Newark Town on the wrong end of a local derby score line as they went down five-nil at Collingham which made it six games since Town had gained anything from this fixture. Despite the score Town Manager Dewey Chappell praised the effort his team had put into the game which again saw them heavily punished for individual mistakes. Josh Desforges, Sam Wilford and Reece Carlisle returned to the side as Town continue to give the squads youngsters as much game time as possible as, looking to the future, the side is rebuilt. To this end Sean McGuiness also featured in the last 15 minutes as he made his return after a long spell out injured.
Town were on the back front after two minutes as Collingham striker George Asplin picked up on a headed clearance and scooted round two Town defenders to beat Town keeper Josh Desforges from just inside the area. Town settled down and the game became more even though Collingham’s passing game made them look the more dangerous as Town’s long ball approach saw them unable to keep the ball for any length of time. As against Staveley a week earlier Town then succumbed to yet another long-range goal as a long kick from Collingham keeper Nathan Burrows was picked up by Chris Funnell who hammered home a thirty-yard drive into the corner after 29 minutes. The game then went out of Town’s reach as a Conor Scott challenge on George Asplin was deemed a penalty and the latter despatched the kick. Two straightforward individual mistakes in the 60th and 73rd minutes saw George Asplin grab another couple of goals to take his tally to four for the game.
Another disappointing result for Town as the effort the team puts in is not yet being matched by creativity and penetration in the last third of the pitch. Town now face up to two more away fixtures as they travel to Dinnington Town on the 17th and Kiveton Park to play Renishaw Rangers on the 244th November.