It’s the business end of the season and Newark Town boss Luke Parsons knows every opponent will be playing hardball.
The Blues head to Holwell Sports on Saturday with everything to play for, the hosts as eager to take a step closer to safety as the visitors will be to secure a top-five finish.
“At this time of year, you’ve got teams fighting for the play-offs, teams fighting to stay in the play-offs and teams fighting to stay up,” Parsons said.
“Any game now is far from easy. On paper, you don’t know who you want to face.
“For us, it’s about having the right mentality and going to get three points.”
Sports ???????? in their home contest against Clifton All Whites on Tuesday evening, while Town travelled to face Saffron Dynamo last night (Wednesday), hoping to bounce back from Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at champions-elect Bourne.
Leicestershire-based Holwell have produced some unpredictable results this season, but Parsons expects them to be a tough nut to crack.
“We played them first game of the season and won 4-3. That game could have been 8-6,” he said.
“They’re a funny old team as they have a lot of young lads, and that doesn’t always bring consistency.
“But I think they’re a better team than the league position shows.
“This time last year went there and it took an 89th-minute winner to win 2-1. So we know what it’s going to be like.”
Saturday’s contest (KO 3pm) will be game number three in an eight-match sequence of away fixtures for the Blues.
But with Town focused on cementing a play-off spot, Parsons is happy to cede home advantage for a chance of picking up points.
“That’s the pros and cons of having a 4G pitch,” he continued, hoping a ‘tweak’ in playing style to help his side in those difficult battles on the road.
“Games don’t get called off when you’re at home and when the bad weather comes you have to re-arrange games.
“Earlier this season we probably scored more than what we’ve been scoring, but we probably conceded more.
“We’ve probably been stronger at the back lately, but when you tweak a style a little bit and become more solid you do lose a couple more goals.
“But we’re confident going into games that we can score. And if we can keep a few clean sheets then we’ll hopefully get a few points.”
Zac Allen’s second-half finish saw Bourne edge a 1-0 victory over Newark in Lincolnshire at the weekend, ending a six-game unbeaten run.
But Parsons remains confident his squad will see that defeat, to a side now seven points away from being crowned champions, as just a blip.
“I didn’t feel we deserved to lose the game, but we didn’t do enough to win it in all fairness,” the manager said.
“Bourne are a very good side, consistent and good at what they do. I think they’ll be worthy winners of the UCL.
“On Saturday we huffed and puffed. First half I thought we were the better team but second half Bourne turned the screw and got a deflected goal.
“I felt we should have had a penalty. That doesn’t guarantee we score it, but I felt we had that right to try to get level.
“The one thing I’ve instilled in the team. If we do have a setback it’s about bouncing back. We’ve got tat bouncebackability in the squad.”
Town will be on the road at West Bridgeford on Tuesday evening (KO 7.45pm).
