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Newark Town manager Luke Parsons says every point matters in race for United Counties League play-offs




Luke Parsons believes Newark Town’s last-gasp draw at the weekend could prove a vital point in their play-off bid.

Defender Luke Andersen scored a 96th-minute equaliser as the comeback kings recovered from 2-0 down to draw with bottom side Kimberley Miners Welfare on Saturday.

Newark Town manager Luke Parsons. Picture: David Dawson
Newark Town manager Luke Parsons. Picture: David Dawson

He added to Matteo Perkins’ strike, with the result keeping Newark fifth in United Counties League Premier Division North.

“Who knows what that point could mean at the end of the season?” said manager Parsons. “It could be a huge point.

“I give Kimberley credit but we’ve had enough chances to win three games of football and haven’t taken them.

“We should have had three points but we could easily have ended up with nothing after going 2-0 down.”

Parsons, who takes his side to Wisbech this Saturday (3pm), warned Kimberley would be no pushovers despite their lowly league position.

That didn’t stop the manager’s phone going off multiple times over the weekend questioning the result.

“They’ve brought some players in and the lad who played up front has played something like 17 games for Step 3 Mickleover,” said Parsons.

“When you look at their results, they’re only losing by one goal, so they’re a team that will fight to the end.

“It was never going to be easy.

“I had six or seven messages after the game saying what happened? People just expect you to win these games.

“It’s the same as if our nearest challengers are playing bottom-of-the-leauge, you expect them to get three points and when they don’t it comes as a bit of a shock.

“But in the grand scheme of things, every team’s scrapping for points.

“There’s a lot of teams who dropped points at the weekend and we couldn’t capitalise.”

Parsons feels Newark’s flexibility has helped them recover numerous results from losing positions this season.

They’re able to mix up their play, as seen against Kimberley as midfielder Joe Smith was pushed up top in a change of approach.

“He came on in midfield but as soon as we conceded the second we went two up top and played a bit more direct,” said Parsons.

“I thought he changed the game. He won just about every header, he put himself about and make it awkward for Kimberley.

“We’re a passing team but I feel like we can easily switch to going a bit more direct when we need to and putting balls in the box because we’ve got a threat.

“Arguably we’ve probably got more players that suit that long-ball, kitchen-sink style of football and it’s good we can flick a switch when we need to.

“I think that’s why we get back into games because we realise when Plan A isn’t working.

“I change formation three or four times in a game sometimes and most teams, when you do that against them, it can cause a bit of we-don’t-know-what-we’re-doing-here and they try and see the game out.

“We’ve always got the ability to switch to a different style or formation and pick up results.”

Newark’s versatility could come in useful at 17th-placed Wisbech as the winter takes its toll on pitches.

“It’s going to be a difficult game,” added Parsons.

“They’re decent at home and it’s a very open pitch so if there is a little bit of a breeze, it turns into a strong breeze.

“And depending on the weather, if we have rain, the pitch becomes a bit stickier as well.

“We’ve got a game plan ready and hopefully we can switch it up again a little bit.

“We’ve got the players to do that so we’re confident we can get a result.”



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