NEWSOME kept up their bid to retain their Division I title with an excellent performance to gain a point in a 3-3 draw against last year’s runners-up Heywood Irish Centre.
Having lost twice in the League to Heywoods last year assistant manager Chris O’Brien was determined not to have a repeat.
And, despite the absence of several key players, Newsome began strongly with some excellent midfield play.
But their efforts were shortlived as Heywoods delivered a deep cross and the Newsome defence were beaten in the air at the back post to go down 1-0 on five minutes.
The goal acted as a spur to Newsome, however, and Jobarteh latched on to a defence-splitting pass before sliding the ball home past the advancing goalkeeper.
Newsome continued to show why they are defending League champions with their teamwork and spirit as they mixed things up all over the park and the team pulled together with excellent first half performances.
Sean Blaize’s words of inspiration at the break inspired Newsome and they came out after the break with the bit between their teeth and the midfield gave the Heywoods defence some food for thought as they proved dominant with accurate through-balls to feed the forwards and wingers who worked the keeper hard.
But, once again, Newsome were caught out when Heywoods delivered a deep corner and despite a Bower being impeded out of the referee’s view, up popped a Heywoods player to win the header and guide the ball into the top corner for a 2-1 lead.
Newsome reacted well and when an accurate cross was played into the box, the keeper came out to punch, but it fell kindly to Robshaw who volleyed it straight into the bottom corner.
Soon after, Robshaw fired his side into a 3-2 lead after some excellent work from man-of-the-match Barlow down the left.
Barlow played a neat one-two with a teammate and his pin-point cross was headed home by Robshaw.
Newsome continued to press for more goals and if it wasn’t for excellent saves by the Heywoods keeper they could have put the game beyond their opponents’ reach.
Instead, Newsome fell asleep, and a poor decision from the referee gave Heywoods a free-kick on the half-way line despite the official appearing to indicate a throw-in.
As Newsome pushed forward to mark a throw-in, a Heywoods player took it as a free-kick which the referee allowed, much to the bemusement of the Newsome players, and the Heywoods striker nipped in to cooly slot home the equaliser.
