Headache for Halfpenny as relegation threatens
Coach Paul Halfpenny says these are worrying times for Newark Ladies 1sts after his team fell to a damaging 1-0 defeat to relegation-rivals Bournville in the first game of the second half of the season.
Newark created the majority of the chances in the first-half with Sarah Pask and Megan Beard both going close from penalty corners.
But the hosts were stunned two minutes before half-time when Bournville, who began the day bottom of the table, lashed a penalty corner strike goalwards that keeper Molly Usbourne couldn’t keep out.
The second-half continued in the same scrappy fashion, but Usbourne was twice called on to make fine diving saves to keep Newark in the game.
Newark played their best hockey in the final 15 minutes.
Katie McMunn and Laura Donaldson were a constant threat with their pace and were unlucky not to haul Newark level, but Bournville held on.
The team sit fourth from bottom in the Midlands 2, six points clear of the relegation- zone.
Halfpenny said: “I have faith in the entire squad but I feel individual confidence within the team is at its lowest for many years.
“I will pull out all the stops to improve our performance. These are worrying times for the team as we fail to pick up points again.”
Newark Men’s 1sts 7
Wootton Wanderers 2
Nick Crouch’s hat-trick helped Newark to their seventh win in eight games as they beat bottom side Wootton Wanderers in East Midlands 2.
It was far from a faultless performance, however, as Newark nearly threw away a 3-0 lead.
Newark began the match strongly, racing into a two-goal advantage courtesy of Sam Smith’s easy finish at the far-post and Pierre Smets’ deflected effort.
Crouch got in on the act by showing good goal-scoring instinct to divert a squared ball into the net.
But Newark then took their foot off the gas and conceded two goals to put Wootton back in contention, leaving the defensive unit of Lewis Humphrey, Craig Joynes, and David Colcomb busier than hoped.
Sally Halfpenny’s side did regain a healthy lead towards the end of the half with Crouch scoring his second along with Smets, whose flat strike was helped into the goal by the visitors.
Crouch completed his hat-trick before half-time to put Newark 6-2 up at the break.
Newark added a seventh in the second-half after a nice flick from Harry Beedham.
The team sit third in the table, two points behind promotion rivals Rolls Royce.
Ashfield Aztecs Ladies 2
Newark Ladies 2nds 0
Newark Ladies 2nds suffered a loss to relegation rivals Ashfield Aztecs.
The visitors started well, but the Aztecs opened the scoring on ten minutes when an attacking player entered Newark’s D unopposed and struck the ball with force to beat keeper Alex Wadeson.
The Ashfield keeper made several important saves as Newark searched for an equaliser, but they were dealt a sucker punch when the Aztecs doubled their lead with another well-taken shot.
A reorganisation at half-time saw Hollie Smallwood move from defence to attack, but they failed to score despite a series of short corners.
Nottingham Players 2nds 1
Newark Mens 2nds 2
Goals from Simon Higgs and John Reynolds earned Newark a tight victory to keep them in their promotion spot in the East Midlands 1 Reserve League.
In the fourth minute, a long ball exposed Nottingham’s defence and skipper Higgs was on hand to put the visitors in front.
A trademark penalty corner from Reynolds followed shortly afterwards putting a commanding Newark side 2-0 up.
The game turned into a scrappy affair and Newark were punished for missing several opportunities when Players pulled a goal back after the interval.
Newark were grateful to goalkeeper Tom Shaw for a last-minute save, which secured a vital win for the visitors.
Coach Arran Coggan said: “This was not our best performance and we made lots of silly mistakes that allowed Players to come back into the game.
“We need to be sharper if we are to remain in the promotion hunt.”
Newark Mens 3rds 1
Wellingborough 1
A GOAL from Ivan Hufton gave a young Newark outfit a point against promotion-chasing Wellingborough.
Praise must be given to Newark’s youngest contingent who filled gaps left by Adrian Smith and Paul Halfpenny in action with the 2nds and 1sts.
Luke Pearce, only 13, put in a stunning performance at right-back, and Joshua Dent, also 13, was voted man of the match in his first outing for the team.
Newark took the lead from a short corner when Andy McMunn’s shot was saved on the line, but Hufton popped up to put the ball into the net.
The hosts didn’t hold the lead for long as Wellingborough capitalised on some sloppy play and swept the ball home.
Newark Ladies 3rds
Sophie Chambers starred as Newark won their third game in four by beating North Notts 2-0.
Chambers fired a warning shot early on when an effortfrom an acute angle skimmed off the crossbar.
She put Newark in front on 20 minutes when she made a great run down the left wing and rifled in a shot.
The team worked well to limit North Notts’ chances, and Vicky McMunn put the gloss on a fine away performance when she was picked out by Hattie Simmons to score.
The team followed that with a 5-0 win over Boots Ladies 5ths 5-0 in the quarter-finals of the Notts Women’s Shield.
Chambers and Simmons each scored in the first-half to put Newark in command.
Chambers scored a screamer into the top of the net before converting Sue Birkett’s cross for her hat-trick and there was still time for a debut goal for Charlotte Staniforth.
It is the second consecutive time the team has reached the semi-finals of the competition.
Newark under-14 girls 1
W Bridgford under-14 girls 4
Danny Ashwell’s fine individual goal was the highlight for Newark.
With the visitors leading 1-0, Ashwell won possession in her own half and ran the length of the pitch, beating every challenging defender on the way before coolly slotting home.
West Bridgford were too strong in the second-half and scored three more.
Leamington Spa Mixed 1
Newark Mixed XI 3
Newark’s Mixed XI team, which comes together for the England Hockey Trophy, pulled off a fine win to go through to the second round.
Newark’s first came when Simon Higgs and Arran Coggan combined for Higgs to slot home. The same player then doubled the lead.
Leamington pulled a goal back before Sam Smith crossed for Coggan to deflect the ball into the net while holding his stick with one hand.
