Newark Town look to rediscover scoring touch ahead of Asfordby clash – but Blues will be without keeper Theo Avery

Luke Parsons is calling on his Newark Town side to rediscover their goalscoring touch as they travel to relegation battlers Asfordby on Saturday.

The weekend’s 4-0 reverse at home to St Andrew’s was the first time the Blues have failed to find the net in the United Counties League Division One this term – having previously chalked up 97 goals from 31 contests in all competitions.

Indeed, you’d have to go back to October 11 for the only other time Newark haven’t been on target this campaign, a 2-0 Nottinghamshire Senior Cup defeat at higher-level Sherwood Colliery.

“We’re known for high-scoring games,” said boss Parsons, who labelled Saturday’s defeat a ‘bad day at the office’.

“If you could bet on non-league then both-teams-to-score involving Newark Town would be odds of about 1/5.

“We’re always confident in the firepower we have. We’ve got a good team and hopefully we get that bit of luck on Saturday.”

While Parsons is hoping the goals will return in Leicestershire this weekend, there will definitely be a change at the other end of the pitch.

Keeper Theo Avery will sit out the clash after being red carded for a last-man challenge in the 75th minute of the St Andrews defeat as Town trailed 2-0.

Parsons is hoping former stopper Eddie Cooper, currently away at university, can shrug off a hip injury to deputise between the sticks.

Melton-based Asfordby won back-to-back promotions to climb up through the Leicestershire Senior League structure to the UCL Division One this season.

And although they find themselves second bottom and facing a side sat comfortably in the play-off spots, Parsons expects the hosts to be battling for their lives when the two sides meet (KO 3pm).

“It’s a weird league, but one of the best leagues, as bottom can beat top,” the manager said.

“There are favourable games on paper but paper means nothing in this league as people are always scrapping for it and if you have an off day you’ll lose.

“They’re a bit of an unknown quantity to the league, but I watched them against St Andrews recently.

“They’ve got a fantastic surface, and they’re not a bad side. A lot of their players are quite young and they’ll run all day long for you.

“I’m sure we’ll see a difference in attitude and commitment from us in the way we’ll perform out there.

“We’re up there and it’s a chance to put points on the board.”

Joshua Bond, Jude Coates, Thomas Hill and Brandon Hands were on target for St Andrews at Bowbridge Road On Saturday.

Compounding Town’s misery, Joe Braithwaite pulled up with an injury in the warm-up.

“It was very frustrating. Not very often I’ve been frustrated by the way we’ve played this season but Saturday was one of them,” Parsons reflected.

“From one to 11 nobody turned up. In football you can get away with carrying one or two, but when the whole team underperforms there’s not a lot you can do.

“But St Andrews were full value and had a good game plan. You earn your own luck and they played very well, well structured and disciplined. They earned the win on Saturday.”

Tuesday’s scheduled contest at West Bridgford will be re-arranged after the match was postponed due to floodlight issues.