Collegiate Reign On New Kit Parade

<p>After a draw and a defeat against Sacre Coeur in the opening two games of the season, Newman were hoping that their splendid new red kit would herald the beginning of a red-hot run of form. Collegiate arrived at Sudley on the back of two defeats and confidence was high that they'd be sent home empty handed once more.

<p>Despite Newman bossing the opening 25 minutes, it was the men in yellow who struck first, and then proceeded to move up a gear or two, firing in a second just before half-time.

<p>The Reds gathered themselves during the break and came out a different side to the one that had crumbled in those final 15 minutes of the first half, but were stunned by an awful penalty decision, which Collegiate duly dispatched.

<p>At 3-0, it seemed all over. But Shaun Smith, having disembarked a flight from Orlando only hours before kick-off, had other ideas and thrust Newman back into the match with a stunning double. Unfortunately, the stand-in striker found himself back on another rollercoaster ride as a defensive mix-up gifted the opposition a second penalty. Paul Watters managed to get a hand to it this time, but the ball wriggled past him and over the line. Despite Smithy completing a wonderful hattrick, and a late bombardment on the Collegiate goal, the game ended in another disappointing defeat.