Debut delight as Rhys Lewis scores a brace in Newark Flowserve's 6-0 over Belper United

A RECORD crowd of 217 watched as Newark Flowserve crushed Belper United 6-0 in the first ever floodlit football match in Newark.

The win kept Flowserve in fourth place in the East Midlands Counties League, two points off second-placed Graham Street Prims.

Debutant Rhys Lewis started his Flowserve career with a bang, opening the scoring in the 11th minute.

The goal came from the hard work of pacey winger Jammy Lloyd, who made space for a shot that rebounded into the path of Lewis.

The newcomer did not break his stride as he slotted past the keeper.

Belper had their best chance five minutes later, but centre-back Tom Potts bravely blocked a shot that was destined for the goal.

With the home side dominating the opening stages, Belper’s frustration showed as they began to rush their play, carelessly losing possession.

Flowserve doubled the lead on the half-hour as Lewis got his second, heading Liam Moran’s pinpoint cross to the right of the keeper.

At 2-0 it seemed as if Flowserve were in cruise control, with number ten Danny Meadows spraying passes behind the Belper defence.

There was a lapse of concentration by the home side just before half-time, when Stephen Kirkham lost possession on the edge his area.

However, it amounted to nothing as James Rushby hit his shot well wide.

In the 60th minute Meadows picked up the ball 30 yards out and ran at the tiring Belper defence, winning a flag-kick.

Meadows swung in the resulting corner and striker Sam Agar headed down into the ground, past keeper Mark Rathbone .

Flowserve substitute Solomon Miller profited from a loose pass on the half-way line and his direct run resulted in a great save from Rathbone, who narrowed the angle for the shot.

Miller’s movement continued to cause problems for the jaded Belper defence in the final 15 minutes and the striker had another opportunity to make it 4-0.

The elusive fourth goal should have come through wideman Lloyd, who collected the rebound from Agar’s shot.

However, Lloyd’s side-footed effort was saved at the bottom right corner.

Three minutes from time Flowserve got their fourth when Miller slid on to the end of Meadows’ rebounded shot.

Into additional time Kirham made it five, tapping in Meadows’ cross from six yards.

Meadows finally got the goal he deserved with the last kick of the game.

The creative spark curled a 23-yard free kick into the bottom left corner.

Flowserve travel to 8th place Radford on Saturday 15th September.