Wulfs hold title favourites

 

AFC Wulfrunians made the long trip north to face title favourites Newark; AFC are unbeaten in four and Newark have yet to be defeated this season and so both teams entered the game in a confident mood.

 

Ben Jevons returned to captain the visitors after injury with Mat Johnson dropping down to the bench. Newark have a crowd limit of three hundred and the gates were closed prior to kick off with a boisterous crowd cheering on the home side.

 

A Spray free kick presented the first half chance of the game, but the Newark keeper dealt with it confidently.

 

There was very little action or chances in the first twenty minutes with both sides weighing up the opposition and it was proving to be a very close game.

 

The first real opening of the afternoon came the way of AFC with Jack Till breaking down the left, his cross from the by-line flashed across the home side six yard box with the inrushing Gratias Katega and Ashley Jackson just unable to connect, a lucky let off for the home side.

 

Newark were starting to put the visitors under pressure, but the AFC defence was standing up well and there was little between the two teams as the game reached the half hour mark.

 

AFC then forced a corner and the best chance of the game so far fell to Adam Meacham who fired over.

 

 

AFC were conceding too many needless fouls in dangerous areas and from one of these free kicks the home team had their best chance yet, but keeper Tom Hayward came to the rescue with a fine wave.

 

The crowd were becoming increasingly vociferous putting pressure on the officials but to be fair, the referee had maintained a good control of the two teams in a game that was physical but played in the right way.

 

It was AFC broke the deadlock on the hour mark to momentarily silence the home crowd, a Jack Rowley throw down the touch line to Katega was crossed in and Till with his back to goal improvised with an overhead kick with the ball ending up sweetly in the Newark net.

 

The game continued to be played in a very competitive spirit with both sides giving everything they had got.

 

Newark we’re struggling to break down a resolute Wulfs defence but we’re given a lifeline ten minutes from time. A ball was flashed across the AFC goal which Rowley appeared to have dealt with but the ball was adjudged to have brushed his arm and the referee awarded a penalty. Danny Meadows confidently dispatched the penalty to bring the home side level and set up an interesting last ten minutes.

 

Newark were becoming increasingly more frantic as they looked for the winner and it was AFC looking the more composed and it was Wulfs who almost stole the points in injury time when a right wing cross from Katega came back off the face of the crossbar and Till fired the rebound over from close range.

 

Another excellent team performance from AFC Wulfrunians, following on from their strong showing against both Boldmere and Heather St John’s. It is now six games unbeaten in the league and looking very comfortable in eighth place in the league.