Relegation looms large
Burton Ladies 3
Newark Ladies’ 1sts 1
Megan Beard’s penalty was scant consolation for Newark as they fell to their 12th defeat in 15 games against relegation-rivals Burton in Midlands Division 2.
The early stages of the game reflected a bottom-of-the-table fixture, as possession was turned over on a regular basis by both teams.
Burton opened the scoring on 15 minutes from a penalty corner strike and added a second just two minutes later from a penalty flick.
Newark pulled one back on 25 minutes, when Sarah Pask ran 75 metres with the ball and beat the keeper, but her lifted shot was stopped on the line by a defender’s foot and Beard stepped up to score the resulting penalty.
All the action in after the break took place in Newark’s half, and keeper Molly Usborne was outstanding in goal, pulling off several saves to keep the score respectable.
Burton added a third on 47 minutes from a penalty corner.
Newark travel to Tamworth for their final game of the season needing a win to have any chance of staying up.
Newark Ladies’ 3rds 0
Meridian Ladies 2
Newark had to be content with silver medals as Meridian proved too strong in the Nottinghamshire Ladies Hockey Association Shield final.
Boasting a full squad and plenty of supporters, Newark went into the game at the Highfields Hockey Centre, Nottingham, with confidence.
The first-half started with Newark on the back foot and Meridian pushing hard from the middle and Newark were panicking under the pressure.
The deadlock was broken on 15 minutes when Meridian’s main striker got away from her marker on the 23-metre line, carried the ball into the D, and struck the ball past Sophie Chambers in goal.
The killer blow came just before half-time when Meridian were awarded a penalty corner which, despite the defence charging out, ended in an unstoppable strike from the top of the D into the left side of the goal.
Newark’s second-half performance was much improved, with Nullis moving the ball around in midfield to release forwards Charlotte Staniforth and Louise Goodman.
Unfortunately Newark were unable to convert their possession and chances into goals.
Newark Men’s 4ths 3
Grantham 1
Goals from Alec Jones, Tom Shaw, and Dan Palmer gave Newark victory in this end-of-season friendly.
The home side took control from stick-off and the first goal came from Jones, who took up position in the D and coolly pushed the ball through the Grantham keeper’s legs.
Newark continued to keep the pressure on and Harry Beedham saw his shot on goal hit the post, only for Shaw, normally the second team goalkeeper, to convert the rebound.
Grantham’s goal came when Newark failed to gather a loose ball and it was pushed past the keeper.
Palmer wrapped up a fine performance with a superb shot from the right of the D which sent the ball flying into the net.
