Tony Smith reports
AFTER 20 games in the East Midlands Counties League, Flowserve crowned Newark’s inaugural foray into football’s step six by climbing to the top of the league on Saturday afternoon.
It was a ‘sleeves rolled up’ performance that saw them carve out a 2-1 win in potentially their hardest challenge of the season, but they defied a tough Eastwood Community side and the torrential rain to proudly fly the flag for the town.
The hosts - who were raised four years ago from the ashes of an Eastwood Town club who had crashed and burned financially - had last lost at Lowfields at the end of October. Since then they had put together eight successive victories, including an impressive win on their last outing at Ilkeston Town in the FA Vase.
The Highwaymen were able to recall Tyrell Shannon-Lewis and Elliot King from injury, allowing Bradley Wells to move on from his short stay at Lowfields and sign for Spalding. It was an astute piece of management from messrs Kirkham and Roche, with Wells scoring three times in his two games while acting as a stopgap during a striker injury crisis.
The artificial surface at the catchily-titled Play Soccer USA 3G Arena proved to be a godsend, with Flowserve’s rivals Selston and Sherwood Colliery both having their matches abandoned when the monsoon struck.
The former bog-like Coronation Park ground would have suffered accordingly, but the new surface came to the rescue and prevented Flowserve’s considerable efforts from being in vain.
The Newarkers had the driving rain in their faces in the first half, but they had the better of the early exchanges as Jammy Lloyd and Shannon-Lewis both went close before the visitors’ pressure finally told on 18 minutes.
Shannon-Lewis scuffed an attempted cross from right, but the ball was cleared only as far as Sol Miller who lifted it back into the mixer. King won the header and flicked the ball on for Sam Agar to hit a powerful strike which home keeper Jack Walker could only help on its way into the net despite a fine diving effort.
Agar’s 26th goal of the season was negated on 39 minutes when John Whitehurst struck a fine direct free-kick out of the reach of Joe Searson, but two minutes before the break Flowserve were ahead again as Agar’s shot took a wicked deflection off Fellaini-lookalike Jack James and flew past the luckless Walker.
That was it as far as the goals were concerned, but better finishing in the second half would have given Flowserve a more emphatic victory.
What should be emphasised is that Newark Flowserve once again proved that they are a side for all occasions. Their football can be wonderful to watch as their skills are allowed to flourish; they can more than handle the rough stuff as witnessed at Stapleford the previous week; and they can come out on top when they need to roll their sleeves up in the driving rain on a cold December day at Eastwood.
Champion - as they would say in the North East.
Newark Flowserve: 1 Joe Searson; 2 Sol Miller; 3 Chris Richards; 4 Tom Potts (captain); 5 Rhys Lewis, 6 Jammy Lloyd; 7 Jack Beckett; 8 Danny Meadows; 9 Sam Agar; 10 Tyrell Shannon-Lewis (Curtis Price 86mins); 11 Elliot King (Michael Attard 67mins).
Attendance: 123.