37 YEARS OF HURT FOR VICS AS NEWPORT COMFORTABLY WIN BOXING DAY DERBY

East Cowes Vics were yet again found wanting as they lost the eagerly anticipated ‘landlord v tenant’ Boxing Day Derby against Newport. Prior to today’s Boxing Day match, Vics had not beaten Newport in a league game for 36 years. With the East Cowes side 6th in the table and pushing for a playoff place, 523 fans came to Beatrice Avenue in the expectation of a once-in-a-generation win for Vics. But an experienced Newport side overturned the form book to win comfortably. Vics started on the front foot and were ahead after just 8 minutes when Jordan Chapman won the ball in midfield and played in Jez Conway, whose chipped pass found Ji Nash, who finished in style (0-1). In the 19th minute, Nash should have doubled Vics lead when clean through on goal but had his effort parried by Pitman before going inches wide. Further attempts from Harry Taylor and Jez Conway sailed harmlessly past Pitman in the Port goal. Newport then scored against the run of play in the 34th minute when a corner from Joe Butcher bounced off  Vics defender Liam Newbold and was claimed by Port captain Martin McDonough for the equalising goal (1-1). A further effort from Joe Craig went over in the 39th minute. On the stroke of half time, Joe Craig turned in the box and hit an inch perfect effort into the corner of the goal to put Port into the lead (2-1). Half time: Newport (IoW) 2-1 East Cowes Vics

Alex Smith attempted to turn the game around at the start of the 2nd half, bringing on Josh Neale and Teddy Mumford for Jacob Reynolds and Harri Taylor. On the hour mark, Charlie Marsek came on for Ji Nash. Marsek made an impact almost immediately, going past a defender before failing to score from a tight angle, then failing to make contact with a cross in the penalty area.

However, the Port further increased their lead in the 70th minutes when a corner fell perfectly for Jordan Browne to poke home (3-1). 10 minutes later,  a further Newport corner found Harri Catania unmarked in the box to head home and ensure yet another victory for Port against local rivals Vics (4-1).

Full time: Newport (IoW) 4-1 East Cowes Vics Newport (IoW): Pitman, West (Walsh), Oatley, Watterson, McDonough (c), Sainsbury, Butcher, Catania, Browne, Craig (Lamb), Vyse (Myram) Subs (unused): Page, Powell East Cowes Vics: Ram, Young (Snow), Yates, Newbold, Chase, Chapman, Reynolds (Neale), Holdsworth, Conway, Taylor (Mumford), Nash (Marsek) Sub (unused): Berry After the game, winning Newport manager Steve Brougham said:

“I didn’t have to give a team talk. Experience won the game today. However, I feel sure Vics’ time will come.”

For East Cowes Vics, manager Alex Smith said:

“Newport raised their game. Their experience counted. “We should have been a couple of goals to the good in the 1st half but we didn’t take our chances. Newport dug deep in the 2nd half and scored from set pieces.”

Newport’s win leaves the County Town club 17th in Wessex Division 1 with 17 points from 14 games. This Saturday (30th December), Port travel to 3rd-from-bottom Aldermaston. East Cowes Vics remain in 6th place, 3 points below 5th-placed Cove but with a game in hand. Vics play 2nd-placed Downton next.