The Port suffered their 1st defeat of the 2022/23 season at Beatrice Avenue while Cowes Sports and East Cowes Vics both gained maximum points on Saturday (13th August).
With the addition of former Portsmouth Academy goalkeeper Leon Pitman and the return of George Colson and Scott Jones to the County Town club, Newport should be a more formidable side then the one that narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier last season. However, the Port were well beaten by Folland Sports, who appear strong contenders for the Wessex Division 1 title.
The Planemakers began the 1st half on the front foot, having 3 shots blocked in the opening minute. Towards the end of the half, the Port appeared the stronger side, with Joe Craig having the ball robbed by a defender when he appeared clean through in the penalty area, and Jordan Browne forcing a strong save from the Folland’s keeper 5 minutes before the half time break.
Half time: Newport IW 0-0 Folland Sports
Josh Younie broke the deadlock 10 minutes into the 2nd half with a powerful shot across the face of the goal from just inside the penalty area (1-0). George Bishop equalized for the Planemakers 4 minutes later from a 25-yard free kick (1-1). Connor Kelly then had a shot blocked by Sam Webb in the Folland’s goal, but Scott Jones was unable to take advantage of the rebound. Folland took the lead in the 64th minute when Arsha volleyed the ball past Leon Pitman (1-2).
In the 66th minute, Joe Butcher replaced Joe Craig, but the Port were still unable to break down a well-organised and determined Folland side. A minute from full time, Josh Younie had a free kick spilled by Webb, but no Newport forward took advantage of the rebound. The away side made certain of victory through a Luke Hooper strike in the 2nd minute of injury time (1-3).
Full time: Newport IW 1-3 Folland Sports
Newport IW: Pitman, Barron, Colson, Reynolds, Sampson (c), Pearce, Kelly, Younie, Browne, Craig, Jones Subs: Butcher, Streeter (gk), Cutts, Smith
Underdogs East Cowes Vics earned their 1st 3 points of the new season by beating Fleet Spurs at Kennels Lane to move above Newport in the Wessex Division 1 table.
Vics travelled to North Hampshire without their 2 new signings Ant Kettell and Barry Calvert, who were replaced by Sam Cant and Toby Snow.
Vics opened the scoring in the 8th minute when a through ball from Jordan Chapman found Sam Cant in space to chip the ball over Spurs goalkeeper Jack Coleman (0-1). Vics then went 2 up in the 36th minute after a Kade Woodford corner found the head of Cant, who outjumped the Fleet defenders to score (0-2).
Vics soaked up some 2nd half pressure with Fleet’s Tom White hitting the upright in the 78th minute, and keeper Alex Ram pulling off a point blank save 2 minutes from the final whistle to preserve his clean sheet and ensure all 3 points returned to the Island.
Full time: Fleet Spurs 0-2 East Cowes Vics
East Cowes Vics: Ram, Newbold (c), Woodford, White, Berry, Lyon, Chapman, Yates, Cant, Marsek, Snow Subs: Tuckey, B. Woodford (gk), Sheerin, Walsh, Day
In the Wessex Premier, a goal in both halves from that man John McKie saw the Yachtsmen see off Alresford Town at Westwood Park to earn their 1st 3 points of the season.
Captain McKie gave Cowes the lead in the 21st minute by stealing the ball off an Alresford defender before burying it in the roof of the net (1-0)
Some sloppy defending saw Alresford centre forward Louie Russell level the scores in the 80th minute (1-1) However, a minute into stoppage time, John Mckie sent a curling free kick into the top left corner of the Alresford goal to send Westwood Park wild with joy (2-1).
The game went from bad to worse for the away side when substitute Jack Mann was shown a straight red for dissent.
Full time: Cowes Sports 2-1 Alresford Town
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Laird, Dempsey, H. West, O. West, Perrin, Catania, Hayward, McKie (c), Phillips, J. Neale Subs: McFarlane, Coode, C. Neale, Jackson, Voller
After the game, Cowes Sports manager Max Draper said:
“It was a battle. It was ugly. But we got it done. We stuck together when it got hard.”
On John McKie’s match-winning performance, Max said:
“Every time someone writes him off, every time someone pushes him, he steps up and does something different.”
Below: after match interview with Cowes manager Max Draper and goalscorer John McKie
