Newark Town play out 1-1 draw against Ashby Ivanhoe

On Saturday (July 27), Newark Town played out a 1-1 draw at home to Ashby Ivanhoe after a dramatic equaliser minutes from time.

This was the club’s first match of the 2025/25 season, and the first game of Step 5 football in the United Counties League Premier Division North after their surprise promotion to replace Cogenhoe United, who have folded, in the league.

Town started the game well, with a good tempo and keeping the ball well but without really creating many chances, and Ashby scored a penalty in the 37th minute and then grew more into the game.

But Town's Tyler Smith scored the equaliser in the 87th minute, which assistant coach Mitch Griffiths said was “definitely deserved”:

“We spoke at half time about it being a positive half despite being a goal down and would just have to work even harder to get back into the game.

“We had a few chances that we couldn't quite finish and it felt like the goal wasn't going to happen - then we had a bit of luck with Tyler's shot to trickle in.”

Griffiths added that Saturday’s match was overall a “real positive performance”: “We matched a good, well established step 5 team in Ashby and I feel we proved that we are good enough to be here,” he said.

“We would have liked to play more football than we did on the day but it's understandable that there was some nerves with it being the first game but we are confident that we can build on that now and take it into the next game.

Newark Town next play away to Lincoln United at 7.45pm tonight (Tuesday), and then away to Barton Town in the FA Cup this Saturday (August 3) at 3pm.