Holbeach United hit a new low as they were hammered 6-0 at home by Newark Flowserve in the Uhlsport UCL Premier Division North on Saturday.
The hosts conceded goals at crucial times before capitulating early in the second half.
But they competed in the first half even after going behind to Newark’s Dan Meadows scoring the first of what was to be a hat-trick.
Young keeper Jake Frestle on loan from Boston Town made a couple of good saves but the Tigers too had their opportunities, though the goal scoring problem continued.
Holbeach were still in the game heading towards the break but then just three minutes before half-time the referee spotted an infringement amid a goal mouth melee and awarded Newark a penalty.
“It’s one of those where you’ve seen a million get given and a million that don’t get given,” manager Gary Frost said before leaving the club on Tuesday.
“It’s in the box, a defender’s gone to clear the ball and the forward’s gone for it too and I’m not denying he’s caught him, but the player’s gone down a bit theatrically.”
Frestle saved Meadows’ initial effort, but the rebound fell to the Newark captain to make it 2-0.
Any hopes Holbeach had of getting back into the game were blown away early in the second half.
Within 11 minutes of the re-start it was 5-0.
Veteran former Burton Albion and England C forward Shaun Harrad made it 3-0 with a fantastic strike in the 48th minute, before Mason Rowley bundled home from close range four minutes later. Meadows then completed his hat-trick in the 56th minute with a fine move.
Frestle’s saves kept the score, but in the 88th minute, Nathan Kelly was allowed space and time to wander through the defence and finish.
Tigers: Frestle, Chester, Foster, Nuttell, Williams, Frost, Eyett, Carter, Eldridge, Tricks, Barnes. Subs used: Barker, Clark, Elston
p Attendance: 30.
