‘My best day as manager’

Romaine Graham enjoyed his best day in management as Newark & Sherwood stunned league leaders Eastwood in their own backyard. The Highwaymen, who’ve been struggling for form, trailed 1-0 at the break on Saturday and were indebted to goalie Nykah Liburd-Hines for keeping the score down. But after ironing out a few issues with their formation, they stormed back to win 4-1, a result that saw the hosts knocked off top spot by Lincoln United.

In a quirk of the fixture list, the teams meet again this Saturday (3pm) in the United Counties League Premier Division North. Kieran Cummings levelled with a classy free-kick and scored again after new signing Kane Auld made it 2-1. Luke White completed the comeback with a late fourth.



“I knew a team was going to get a spanking off us when it all clicked but I didn’t expect it to be away to top-of-the-league,” said Highwaymen boss Graham. “Nykah earned his money in goal, he was excellent, but we defended well once we got to grips with the game plan because we were a bit unsure in the first half. “They didn’t really lay a glove on us in the second half and we were clinical.

“That’s probably my favourite moment as gaffer because I used to play for Eastwood, so it had a bit of extra meaning for me, but just because of how we’ve been and to see the boys pull out a performance like that. “It was one of those where we had a game plan and it worked. “We allowed them to have the ball and we soaked up the pressure and were good in possession when we got it back.

“We’ve struggled to come back after going a goal behind this season. On the day it felt at times like they were pulling us apart but I’ve watched it back and they weren’t really, we were just struggling to deal with the direct play. “But once I got into my centre-halves and told them exactly how I wanted to play, we were able to deal with the route one ball.

” Graham must decide whether to stick with the same game plan when the sides meet again at Harrowby this weekend. He’s also intrigued to see how the visitors approach the game after a heavy defeat. “I expect they’ll be fired up on Saturday,” said Graham.

“I think they probably underestimated us but in the same breath it’ll be interesting to see what more they can throw at us. “I don’t know whether to tinker. I think we were quite open and didn’t defend the best in some moments until we got the hang of what I wanted us to do.

“Eastwood were pretty wasteful in front of goal and I suspect they’ll think they just didn’t take their chances but if we start how we finished the game, I’m not sure what more they can throw at us. “They’re a good Step 5 team, they get the ball forward quickly and early to the players that will impact the game and I can’t see them changing their style of play. “So it’s just about us not giving anything away and being compact and I fancy KC against any defence that are exposed to fill his boots.

” Graham, meanwhile, says there’s a Notts Senior Cup final place up for grabs for new man Auld. The centre-back impressed on his debut after joining from Bedworth United and with injuries in defence, he has a chance to nail down a spot for the May 6 showpiece against Hucknall at Mansfield Town’s Field Mill stadium. “Kane did well,” said Graham.

“He’s a good signing and he’ll be challenging to get a place in the final. That’s the message to the boys, who’s going to show me they want to play in that game?”.