The new season gets underway at Steps 5 & 6
CRAIG Westcarr rolled back the years with a goal and an assist to decide this opening day clash of the big-hitters.
The 35-year-old frontman oozed the class that made him a regular for Notts County, Chesterfield, Walsall and Portsmouth in the Football League throughout Newark’s hardfought curtain raiser with fancied Worcester City.
Captain Nathan Stainfield thumped home a far-post header from Westcarr’s corner to break the deadlock for the Highwaymen after half an hour.
City had seen a double chance go begging shortly before that and found it hard to recover, particularly after Westcarr’s rising drive across goal beat Dan Jezeph to double Newark’s lead within two minutes of the second half beginning.
The hosts briefly threatened to run riot but while Worcester settled, the result was never in doubt – even after Westcarr got sin-binned by referee Simon Kavanagh with 10 minutes to go.
“It was a good result against a decent enough side,” said summer signing Westcarr.
“We have to keep believing and probably start a bit quicker than we did but I am happy enough with the first game.
“I think it is always a case of getting the win and going from there, banking the points and being solid enough because the performances will come with the wins.
“We might play well and get beaten at times so we are happy to kick things off with three points.”
He may have seen most things during a lengthy careerbut Westcarr was left stunned by his temporary dismissal.
“The referee gave a lot of things the other way, there were a few blatant fouls. I just questioned him and he sin-binned me which was something I didn’t really know about to be honest,” he added. “Thankfully enough we got the result, though, and I apologised to the lads.”
Newark joint-manager Craig Roche was just as pleased to come through the early test of his side’s credentials.
“It was very tight at the start and we expected it to be a close game, I believe Worcester will be one of the strong contenders in the league this season,” he said.
“It was a case of being tight in the beginning and taking our chances when they came. They were few and far between and the game was in the balance.
“I don’t think either side dominated, we just took our chances.”
Meanwhile, City assistant manager Marlon Walters admitted early optimism had been punctured by the opener and that his side had not been at the races.
“I think the first goal knocked the stuffing out of us a little bit, we had the better of the chances before that and had the opportunity to go 1-0 up,” he said.
“The goal was a bit of a sucker punch but Newark are known for their physicality, discipline and presence in both boxes and we could have dealt with those things better to be honest.
“The second goal being so early in the second half then made it a very difficult challenge for us. They stifled us.”
NEWARK: White, Potts, Rawdon, Frances, Stainfield, L King, Bastos (E King, 87), Meadows, Westcarr, Hutchinson (Rose, 73), Wells (Nangle, 73). Subs not used:
Burkitt, Zoko.
WORCESTER: Jezeph, Roberts, Jones, Kelly, Turton (Willis, 71), Winwood (Withington, 58), Birch, Lockett, Brain (Adaggio, 50), Reynolds, Okojie. Subs not used:
Hawkins, Mooney.
STAR MAN: Craig Westcarr (Newark)
ENTERTAINMENT: ★★★★★