Debut strike proves in vain
Katie McMunn scored on her debut for Newark Ladies' 1sts but they still lost 2-1 at home to Burton Ladies’ 1sts in the Midland 2 thanks to a late winner from the visitors.
Newark could not play at their usual Magnus home because of a long-standing booking, so instead played at Bingham.
The deadlock wasn’t broken until two minutes into the second-half when Newark scored a superb team goal.
Charlotte Mills combined with Sarah Pask to penetrate the defence. A final ball from Camilla Johnson found McMunn by the far pos to score her first goal for the first team.
Newark looked to extend their lead but disaster struck on 54 minutes when a defensive pass was intercepted, allowing Burton to level.
The hosts pushed to regain their lead but with two minutes remaining Burton scored against the run of play to take all three points.
Newark had a chance in the last 30 seconds to equalise, but Terri McLeod could not squeeze the ball between post and keeper.
It was Burton’s first win of the season.
Coach Paul Halfpenny said: “Today we had 100% commitment, strength, and determination from all 12 players.
“Although we failed to get the right result I’m sure our luck will change soon.”
Newark Men’s 1sts 3
Derby Asterdale 1sts 1
Newark clinched a fourth consecutive win, despite not being at their best.
Playing at Dukeries Leisure Centre, Newark had a long list of absentees in key positions, forcing coach Sally Davies to call up several younger members.
While Newark dominated most of the play in terms of attacks, they lacked the accuracy and right decisions of previous performances.
As a result, Derby Asterdale threatened on the break.
Newark scored two goals at the perfect time — just before and after half-time — and both owed much to some great persistence from Nick Crouch.
He created the first when he stopped the ball going over the back-line and sent it across goal for Benjie Groom to strike home between the keeper’s legs.
Crouch and Harry Beedham played a one-two, both avoiding several Asterdale tackles, before the marksman finished with aplomb.
Derby came out for the second-half in determined mood and pulled a goal back within three minutes. A poorly cleared penalty corner resulted in a second chance for a Derby player to score.
Newark had several chances to restore their two-goal cushion but couldn’t make the breakthrough.
Their nerves were settled two minutes from time when they were awarded a penalty corner, which Ben Brown dispatched into the goal after a number of other players had chances to score.
