Newark Town manager Luke Parsons says club deserve to be in United Counties Premier Division North play-off talk after bright start to the season

Boss Luke Parsons feels his history-making Newark Town side must be considered play-off contenders.

The Blues set a new club record of 14 games unbeaten in all competitions with their fightback against Gresley Rovers on Saturday.

They trailed 2-0 and 4-2 but scored twice in the dying moments to salvage a 4-4 draw, leaving them fourth in their first season as a United Counties Premier Division North outfit.

Parsons’ team have been a surprise package following an unexpected promotion.

They lost last season’s play-off final but were moved up to Step 5 for the first time in their history after Cogenhoe United folded.

And they’ve taken to the new level to such a degree that a play-off challenge can’t be discounted.

“A play-off place at this moment in time certainly isn’t out of the question,” said Parsons.

“Certainly at the start of the season, you wouldn’t have associated Newark Town with the play-offs but the lads have done so well to be up there as part of the conversation.

“We’re taking each game as it comes. A lot of our lads had never played Step 5 before.

“Ninety-five per cent of the squad, three weeks before the season, were preparing for a title charge at Step 6, then we got moved up and here we are having a conversation about could we make the play-offs?”

Newark have featured in a number of high-scoring games, including spectacular comebacks, to break into the top five.

Pressure may increase as the season progresses and it will be up to Town to show they can handle it.

“The pressure was off because no one was expecting Newark Town to do anything,” said Parsons.

“But we are good enough to play Step 5 and the lads are proving that.

“We’re not expected to be where we are and you see it at professional levels when teams go under the radar but when you get to the mid-point of the season, that changes.

“If we’re still up there at Christmas and Newark Town are being talked about a little bit more, and people are saying we are a good team, that’s when the pressure builds a bit more, doesn’t it?

“It’s then can we sustain it and can we be consistent and it’s my job to make sure we do.”

Louis Czerwak and Ryan Rushen squared the Gresley match after Matty Clarke saw a penalty saved with his side 2-0 down.

But Rovers instantly went back in front and soon restored their two-goal cushion.

That wasn’t the end of the story, though, with Joe Braithwaite and Ryan Smith rescuing a draw for the hosts in the last two minutes.

“We were pretty poor on Saturday but we still scored four goals,” said Parsons.

“We ended up having to do it the hard way again but the character and belief in this squad is absolutely phenomenal.

“It’s not a fluke because we’re doing it week in, week out.

“We haven’t got any superstars, it’s that sheer never-say-die attitude. We just never give up and find a way.”

Town’s run ended on Wednesday night when they lost 3-0 at Heanor. They visit league rivals Belper in the FA Vase first round this Saturday (3pm).

Newark are looking to create more history to go with their promotion and club-record unbeaten run when they visit Belper.

“We’ve never gone past the first round before so that will be three bits of club history if we do that,” said Parsons.”