Newark and Sherwood United suffer defeat to Sleaford Town at Station road

Around 240 people braved the elements at Collingham to see Newark and Sherwood United take on Sleaford Town.

In heavy rain, United lost 4-1 to a good Sleaford side.

There were four changes to the United team that lost 2-1 to Anstey Nomads with Luke Walker, Ben Richards, Jamie Goddard, and Ryan Ebanks all joined the starting line-up.

Rain fell to the point that the nearby Ollerton game was called off due to a waterlogged pitch against a Nottingham Forest side.

United drew first blood as Kian Sketchley cut in from the left-hand side and slotted the ball home into the bottom corner from the edge of the box.

The goal came in the ninth minute.

Unfortunately, that would be the highlight of the game for United as bad weather, some controversial decisions, and the second-half tactics of the opposition combined to frustrate.

Sleaford Town equalised right on half-time as Ryan Rushen stabbed the ball home from a corner.

The late first-half goal seemed to affect the game as the Greens came out much more dominant after the break, adding another three goals.

United started well with Nyal Blake and Jamie Goddard looking especially dangerous at times.

There were glimpses of hope as the Highwaymen showed flashes of brilliance but they were unable to convert any opportunities.

In the 59th minute, it was Sleaford Town who found the net with Jacob Fenton slotting it past Ross Woolley for the Greens.

It began a ten-minute bombardment that ensured the away team pulled away from the home side and put the contest out of reach.

Sensing blood in the water, and taking advantage of the United keeper being forward, Ryan Rushden lobbed an impressive effort from around the halfway line.

It went over the head of Woolley and into the goal, sparking mass reactions from the sideline and putting Sleaford's third goal on the board.

At 65 minutes, Sleaford Town delivered the final nail in the coffin as they extended the lead to 4-1.

Fenton again was the scorer as he fired a powerful shot into the net, beating the keeper.

The three-goal salvo seemed to stun the home side who never quite recovered from the ten-minute onslaught.

They were also hampered by worsening weather and interruptions on the field as opposition players went down requiring their physio to come on.

This, combined with the quick-fired three goals ensured that the Highwaymen found it hard to gain any sort of momentum in the latter stages of the game.

Woolley made a couple of good saves during this time to keep the score at 4-1 as the game wound down.

The Highwaymen are next in action at home against Belper (3pm kick-off) on August 27.