20/09/2026
Latest edition from Francis Towndrow as he recaps on the latest game down at the YMCA
Thank you as ever 🩵
Newark Town FC v Aylestone Park FC
kickoff 3pm 19 September 2026 @ YMCA
H.T. 1-0
F.T. 3-3
CERTAINLY NOT A WALK IN THE THE PARK
Probably, Aylestone Park, are, the youngest side in the league but also likely one of the most talented, who's team's philosophy, appears to be, keeping the ball and playing the game on the surface. Whist they sit, just one place above the bottom side, they shouldn't be, one of the contenders for relegation, as the season progresses.
Back in the 2022-23 season, both Aylestone and Newark, played in Division One, of the, United Counties League. That season, Aylestone, also known as The Park, were promoted, as champions, on 95 points, and the blues finished in 5th place on 80. At home, that season, in April 2023, Town lost to the Park 2-3, whilst the previous August, it ended as a 1-1 draw at their ground.
Aylestone Park FC, were founded in 1968 from a Methodist Church community, therefore, they are, exactly, one hundred years younger, than the Newark Club, who were then known, back in 1868, as Newark FC.
Newark wore their sky blue kit today and Aylestone their all red number, having travelled 44 miles, along the A46, from Leicester.
On 34 minutes, Josh Barrett, who had another sparkling game for the blues, took a bouncing ball on his chest 30 yards from The Park's goal, turning nicely he pushed the ball forward and from the edge of the box, using his right foot, he hit a firm shot directly at the keeper, who blocked but was unable to hold, as it spun out of his grasp, and into the net 1-0
On 57 minutes, Toby White, in probably his best game for the Town to-date, hit a 45 yard pass diagonally forward from defence, to the goal poaching Harry Allcock who was tightly marked, on the left hand side of the penalty area, the ball, hit the opponent on his shoulder and bounced in favour of the assertive blue, Harry, who pushed the ball and then quickly fired it into the bottom far corner of the net 2-0
On 75 minutes after a couple of headers forward from the halfway line by The Park and a push with the boot over blue defenders, to the right, a good run and a purposely delivered lob followed, that sailed over the head of the advancing, Keeper, Hayden McCarthy, and dropped into the net. 2-1
80 minutes a bit of a scramble and player to player collisions leaves a couple of blue defenders on the floor, a side footed pass into the box was well slotted home into the net from 10 yards out 2-2
86 minutes blues number nine, Harry Allcock makes a 25 yard left-footed pass to the edge of the area where Luke White, controlled well, he ran into the penalty area with a defenders in pursuit and forced home from 14 yards 3-2
88 minutes the blues made a couple of attempted tackles on left of their own penalty box, the persistence of the attacking players payed off, as The Park scrambled a goal from the chaos at the near post, from a couple of yards 3-3
A very lively end-to-end game, never a dull moment but not good on the nerves of the Newark fans. Deservedly up at 2-0 with only 15 remaining it felt, after four consecutive defeats, 3pts would be delivered for the blues. Good football was played by both sides today, whilst the blues fans left the ground, disappointed with only one point, to a neutral, however, a draw might have appeared to be a fair result.
Over recently week's watching the blues, especially, with only minutes remaining, has been a helter-skelter experience, often holding a narrow-lead anxiety sets in, a nervous anticipation of how the game might finish, and then there's that familiar sinking-feeling, if the blues let a lead slip. As was the case today, with four goal scored, within the last 15 minutes. Hearts racing, hands get clammy, as blue supporters, kick, every ball. In fact, sitting alongside me was, Gary Hales, father of Club Captain, Alex, Gary, suddenly rose from his seat, as had developed cramp in his thigh, as he had been involuntary clearing every ball as it crossed into the Blue's-half!! We spoke of how the famous Italian sides of the past, once taking a lead in a game, would adopt a system known as Catenaccio or the "door-bolt" basically, closing the game down, playing defensively and clearing any loose balls, for Italians, winning and taking maximum points was essential but not necessarily an exciting style to watch, like Newarks, but effective nevertheless. Watching the blues, exciting attacking play, is not necessarily for the faint-hearted!
After the game, Luke said, he had thought, "Lady Luck, would change for today's match, especially after the first goal ........ but the blues keep gifting goals away.... we will turn it around" Referring to our next game, at Gresley Rovers FC, he continued "obviously it is a difficult place to play, having a sloping pitch and a large spectator following ....could be the turning point of the season, and we will kick-on, after next week, and move forward"
So next Saturday, it's an away game 47 miles to The Moat ground, Swadlincote, Derbyshire, versus, Gresley Rovers FC. who sit, 8th in the table, despite losing today 4-0, away, at the bottom of the league team, Deeping Rangers.
Let the travelling twelve-man, often termed by Parsons and meaning the Blue supporters, get behind the lads next saturday and hopefully assist with an away win and 3 points.
uptheblues
