Late City fightback not enough in opening day defeat

A late onslaught was not enough to earn City a share of the points on the opening day of the 2019/20 Season as Newark Flowserve took all 3 points in front of a crowd of 300.

Newarks intentions were made clear from the start as they bombarded City with the long ball. City's keeper Tedd Cann, brought in at the last minute on loan from West Bromwich Albion made the first of several fines saves in the 2nd minute after Newark forced a corner.

City settled down but were constantly kept on their toes struggling to deal with the ball over the top and their first chance came on 26 minutes when a Liam Lockett corner was fired high over the bar from close range by Sinclair.

It was Newark though who opened the scoring and it was just rewards for their early pressure. A long throw by Gorman was bundled over the line by King from close range on 35 minutes.

City equalised on 41 minutes when City's Player of the Year from last season Liam Lockett, picked up the ball just outside the area before ducking and weaving past three players and passing the ball into the net to give the Newark keeper no chance.

City would have been more than happy to go into the break at 1-1 but Newark had other ideas. A goal mouth scramble saw Cann make another fine save, but City failed to clear which resulted in Cotton's shot being deflected to make it 2-1 at Half Time.

City made a change bringing on Sam Hall for Kurtis Mewies but Newark got the second half underway as they had finished the first half forcing Cann into another fine save from close range.

Liam Lockett was replaced on 63 minutes by Tyreece Ruddock with Jordan Harrison dropping back but four minutes later Newark stretched their lead. A good move down the right saw Sam Agar clear and he made no mistake from close range, firing high into the net. Minutes later it got worse for City when Dixon made a run into the box to pick up a short corner but he was adjudged to have been tripped by Sinclair and a penalty was awarded which was dispatched by Agar.

On 70 minutes, Jak Jeys was brought into the action and it took 10 minutes before making his mark on the game. On 81 minutes Jeys was brought down 8 yards outside the box and he added City's second goal with a finely executed strike. Aaron Birch nearly added a third two minutes later with City on the front foot, but his long range strike was tipped over the bar by Searson-Smithard. However, from the next attack, a fine work move saw Luke English's deep cross tapped home from close range by Jeys.

City however were unable to keep up the onslaught in the remaining minutes as Newark wound the clock down and it was the home team who nearly added a fifth goal. Agar was clumsily brought down ten yards outside the box and the resulting thumping strike by Meadows was superbly tipped round the post by City's Man of The Match Cann.

Plenty of positives for City on the opening day of the season, but dealing with the long ball has to be a priority in a fixture packed August.