On the road to Step Six
NEWARK TOWN v HARWORTH COLLIERY MATCH REPORT BY JIM TODD
Goals from Ben Castell and Lewis Chambers saw Newark Town victorious on Wednesday night against Harworth Colliery, who had won their three opening matches, to maintain their position as league leaders writes Jim Todd. Town made four changes from the team which had won on Saturday with the experienced Sam Wilford and Steve Carty returning, James Evans replacing Lewis King and Ben Castell given a start in place of Jack Durkin. This saw Town line up with Craig Bridge filling the role of what a TV pundit would no doubt describe as a false number nine.
Town quickly got into their stride with George Asplin prominent as crosses and shots peppered the Harworth penalty area with only some determined blocks and good saves from the visiting keeper denying Town a goal. A shot over the bar following a corner being Harworth’s only real reply. Town finally got the goal their play deserved in the 28th minute when Asplin set Ben Castell free to fire home into the corner from 15 yards. Town continued to take the game to Harworth with only the final shot denying them more goals but had a scare in the 32nd minute when for once the defence was split and Nathan Burroughs had to come quickly off his line to deny Harworth a goal. After Lewis Chambers had a shot well saved from a Craig Bridge pull back Harworth at last manged to add some bite to their approach play. Nathan Burroughs was forced into another good save and James Evans had to concede a corner before the half finished with George Asplin firing over after being set free following a determined tackle by, and pass from, Sam Wilford.
Ricky North replaced the influential Luke Parsons, who had picked up an injury, at the start of the second half. The second half started as the George Asplin show as he had a shot well saved, saw a cross hit the top of the bar and then had a shot hit the post. Harworth continued to be unable to create any real chances against Town’s well organised defence with a header from a corner pushed round the post their only threat. Town continued in similar vein to the first half putting the visitors under real pressure but without being able to find the final finish or being denied by the woodwork highlighted in the 35th minute when George Asplin fired a tremendous freekick against a post. Town finally made the game safe in the 42nd minute when George Asplin was set free to put Lewis Chambers through for a calm finish. Town saw the game out with the visiting keeper parrying an Aaron Martin shot after he had made a determined run from midfield and in the last-minute Tyler Martin who had been put clear hit the bar.
Managers are never satisfied but Town’s joint managers Damon Parkinson and Luke Parsons would probably be inwardly delighted with the performance and result on the night against a team who will probably be thereabouts at the end of the season.
Town Team: Burrows, A Martin, Wilford, Parsons [North 46], Evans, Castell, Lewis [Durkin 85], Carty, Chambers, Bridge [T Martin 75], Asplin.
Man of the Match – Sam Wilford
Attendance - 182