The Port won their 9th successive game in Wessex Division 1 by seeing off promotion rivals Andover Town at Smallbrook on Saturday by the best of 5 goals.
Newport began on the front foot, with Connor Kelly having chances in the 3rd and 4th minutes both stopped by Andover keeper Karl Steinborn-Busse.
The Port took the lead on the quarter-hour mark when a Connor Kelly cross found Joe Craig unmarked in the penalty area, who then calmly chipped the ball over Steinborn-Busse (1-0).
Connor Kelly then had further opportunities to score in the 18th and 20th minutes. In the 24th minute, Kelly then set up Jordan Browne to score from close range (2-0).
On the half hour mark, Ben Emans pulled a goal back for the Bluebirds (2-1).
However, in the 33rd minute, Kelly finally got himself onto the score sheet by side-footing the ball into the goal from close range to restore the Port’s 2-goal advantage (3-1).
Half Time: Newport IoW 3-1 Andover Town
Andover Town turned the game into a close fought encounter when Brendan Holmes sent a superb shot past Pitman 7 minutes after the half time break (3-2).
The Port had numerous opportunities to put the game beyond the Bluebirds’ reach with Joe Butcher firing the ball just over the crossbar in the 55th minute, and Connor Kelly sending the ball inches past the left post on the hour mark.
In the 65th minute, Newport were lucky not have been playing with 10 men when Connor Kelly impeded Ben Evans on the edge of the Port penalty area. As the last man, he should have been red carded, but only a yellow was given.
The Port spurned further good chances in the 2nd half with Joe Craig blasting the ball over the crossbar and Jordan Browne having a shot stopped by Steinborn-Busse.
Steve Brougham made 3 defensive substitutions shortly before the end of the game, bringing on Neo Lamb, Liam Triggs and Martin McDonough to replace Boyd-Kerr, Josh Younie and Joe Hancott, and the Port held out until the end of the 90 minutes to ensure all 3 points remained on the Island.
Full Time: Newport IoW 3-2 Andover Town
Newport IoW: Pitman, Colson, Hancott (Triggs), Boyd-Kerr (Lamb), Barron, Oatley, Kelly, Younie (McDonough), Craig, Browne, Butcher Subs not used: Smith, McCormack
After the game, Newport manager Steve Brougham said:
“This was just 1 of those games you have to get through. We should have had them dead and buried when we were 2 goals up. But I can’t fault the lads. They had a difficult game midweek.”
The Port’s victory leaves them 3rd in Wessex Division 1, 4 points behind leaders Downton but with 4 games in hand.
Video: Robert Lunn
Millbrook 4-2 East Cowes Vics
Vics were very unlucky to lose to Millbrook in Southampton after twice taking the lead.
Jordan Chapman put the East Cowes side into the lead on the quarter hour mark (0-1), and Vics managed to preserve their goal advantage to the half time break. Millbrook equalized after the interval (1-1) only for centre forward Sam Cant to restore Vics’ goal advantage in the 60th minute (1-2). However, 3 late 2nd half goals (4-2) saw the Dockers take all 3 points.
East Cowes Vics: Ram, Walsh, Woodford, Berry, West, Newbold, Chapman, Lyin, Cant, Marsek, Snow Subs: Yates, White, Haylor, Lacey
Defeat leaves Vics languishing in 18th place in Wessex Division 1 with 9 points from 13 games. The East Cowes side have now gone 14 games since their last victory on 13th August.
New Milton Town 2-1 Cowes Sports
The Yachtsmen were knocked out of the 2nd round of the FA Vase by Wessex Division 1 side New Milton Town.
The Linnets took the lead in 1st half injury time through a George Deem header (1-0). The match had been held up by a head injury to Cowes full back Connor White.
New Milton extended their lead through Tyrrell Sampson in the 72nd minute (2-0). Jez Conway pulled a goal back 2 minutes from full time (2-1). However, the Yachtsmen’s chances of making a late comeback appeared slim when Harri Catania was sent off for a 2nd bookable shortly before the final whistle.
Cowes Sports: Hatt, White, McFarlane, Conway, West, Catania, Hayward, Phillips, Holmes, Coode, C. Neale Subs: Watson, J. Neale, Dempsey, Mumford
