IT WILL take a good side to better Newent this season, but they almost fell to the determination of a spirited Yorkley team on Saturday.
The very last kick of the game passed just an inch over the Newent crossbar and saved the visitors' unbeaten league record.
"It was touch and go," admitted Newent player manager Steve Woodward. "Yorkley really came at us in the last 10 minutes but we defended well. We were bombarded with high balls. Not many clubs are going to go to Yorkley and win so we are pleased to get that game out of the way," he said.
With First and Second teams so far unbeaten, there is an understandable air of optimism at Newent.
"We are trying to be a little more professional. So far we have trained twice a week and it has paid off. We have good strength in depth and there is a good atmosphere at the club," said Woodward.
He believes his senior team could comfortably hold its own in the Northern Senior League and says he will be disappointed if the Second X1 is not promoted.
In contrast Yorkley have so far been unsettled, having lost a number of players to college and work.
An outplayer, Jack Phillips, had to play in goal and did well to cope with the highly regarded Newent attack.
Newent had enjoyed the best of the first half and deserved the lead with a goal by Martin Elton close to the interval. Tony Curtis notched up the second before John Brookes snatched one back for Yorkley with a superb chip to beat the Newent keeper.
But Yorkley's stirring finish was not enough and club official Dennis Kear admitted afterwards that Newent had deserved their win. He also had a word of warning for Yorkley's players to be less retaliatory after tackles – they received five bookings – and suggested referees should adopt a tougher approach to bad language.