East Cowes Vics drew with Newport at Smallbrook this afternoon (Good Friday), levelling the score in the 8th minute of injury time through an Adam Voller strike.
The game was watched by a bumper Good Friday crowd of 416 – the highest Wessex Division 1 attendance of the season to date.
Vics began the game missing key players, including the powerful Sam Cant, defender Liam Newbold and midfielder Coner Lyon; the Port were without Joe Butcher and Ryan Hughes.
The match began with plenty of Port pressure but no clear chances. The significance of the game for both sides was seen in the 14th minute when veteran goalkeeper Gary Streeter was dismissed from the Newport bench for vehemently disputing a contested throw in.
The Port continued to show ill-discipline when Joe Craig was booked after tussling with defender Harrison Berry. The 1st real chance fell to Jordan Browne, who had a shot stopped on the goal line by Vics’ keeper Alex Ram. A further chance fell to Joe Craig but again Ram was equal to the goal attempt.
On the half hour mark, Adam Voller was brought down on the edge of the Port penalty area, an action that went unpenalized by the referee. The County Town club continued to show poor composure with both George Colson and Jordan Browne finding their way into the referee’s notebook.
Half time: Newport IoW 0-0 East Cowes Vics
Vics started the 2nd half brightly with Charlie Marsek forcing a save from Leon Pitman with a header, Aiden Radford coming close and Josh Neale shooting over the crossbar. The Port then brought on 2 players both capable of scoring: Ji Nash and Josh Younie.
The County Town club took the lead in the 67th minute when the ever-threatening Connor Kelly picked up the ball on the left side of the pitch before sending his strike past Ram from a tight angle (1-0).
However, in the 73rd minute the home side were reduced to 10 men after Joe Craig had an altercation with Harrison Taylor, leading to a booking for the Vics player and the dismissal of the Newport No 10.
Vics then sent on their substitutes: Hart, Kirby, Turner and Parsons. Vics had a strong handball appeal for a penalty turned down 2 minutes from the end of full time.
The Port appeared to have secured a narrow 1-goal victory until Adam Voller picked up the ball on the right of the pitch in the 8th minute of injury time before beating Pitman on the edge of the penalty area and seeing the ball roll into the undefended Newport net (1-1).
Full time Newport (IoW) 1-1 East Cowes Vics
Newport (IoW): Pitman, Boyd-Kerr, Hancott, Colson, Oatley (c), Barron, Kelly, Reynolds, Browne, Craig, Chapman Subs: Younie, Pearce, Nash, Burford, Malin
East Cowes Vics: Ram, Snow, Woodford, Berry, Chase (c), Taylor, Voller, Yates, Radford, Neale, Marsek Subs: Hart, Kirby, Turner, Parsons, McNaney
After the game, Vics manager Alex Smith said:
“I’m pleased for the lads more than for myself. However, I can never be fully satisfied with just a draw.”
The Port’s point leaves them trailing Wessex Division 1 leaders Andover New Street by 7 points with 4 games of the season remaining.
Video: Robert Lunn:
Good game, never have guessed difference in league positions