Newport’s long-awaited return home ended in bitter disappointment as Fawley inflicted Port’s first league defeat on an historic night at WightFibre Park yesterday evening (Tuesday).
After more than 7 years of groundsharing, Newport finally played competitive football at WightFibre Park – a landmark occasion for a club which has endured a long and frustrating journey towards securing a permanent home.
A crowd of close to 500 turned out to witness the occasion – an impressive gate given the unfortunate scheduling which saw Cowes Sports and East Cowes Vics also playing at home.
Port went into the game having won all 3 of their Wessex League Division One fixtures on the road, but faced a clinical and well organised Fawley side whose victory took them to 2nd spot. The Oilers restricted Port to comparatively few clear opportunities.
Fawley wasted little time in upsetting the script. Just 2 minutes had been played when Tom Moody broke through the Newport defence and beat Leon Pitman to give the visitors an early lead (0–1).
Newport almost produced the perfect response in the 9th minute when captain Macauley Watterson rose to meet the ball, only to see his header rebound off the crossbar. Port had come within inches of drawing level, but instead Fawley made their next opportunity count.
Josh Moody found space to nod the visitors’ 2nd past Pitman in the 28th minute (0–2), leaving Newport trailing further behind the visiting side. Frustration began to creep into Port’s play, and Jacob Reynolds was sin-binned for dissent in the 35th minute, temporarily reducing the hosts to 10 men.
Half Time: Newport (IOW) 0–2 Fawley AFC
Newport needed the next goal to give themselves a realistic route back into the contest, but chances remained scarce against a disciplined Fawley defence.
Instead, the visitors struck again in the 62nd minute. Josh Moody did superbly on the dead-ball line before setting up Alex Sawyer, who converted with a header to put Fawley 3 ahead (0–3).
As Newport’s hopes faded, frustration increasingly came to the surface and the contest became fractious. Matters boiled over in the 70th minute when Reynolds pushed a Fawley player, received a 2nd card and was sent off.
Despite being reduced to 10 men, Port continued to push forward. Pitman found himself playing almost as an auxiliary defender close to the halfway line and twice made crucial interventions well outside his penalty area.
There was almost a consolation for Newport close to full time when the Fawley goalkeeper dropped the ball, but substitute Jez Conway failed to capitalise.
Full Time: Newport (IOW) 0–3 Fawley AFC
Newport (IOW): Pitman, Grace, Thompsett, Hancott, Watterson (c), Holbrook, Nash, Walsh, Browne, Reynolds, Butcher. Subs: Benford, Woodford, Conway, Catania, Young.
The defeat ended Newport’s 100% start to their Wessex League Division One campaign after 3 successive victories and leaves Port 10th with 9 points from 4 games.
Port will hope to bounce back at WightFibre Park on Saturday (5th September), when they host Amesbury Town in Wessex League Division One (15:00).
In other games…
Cowes Sports 0-0 Baffins Milton Rovers
In the Wessex Premier, the Yachtsmen endured a frustrating evening after being held to a goalless draw against Baffins Milton Rovers in front of 119 fans at the Diverse Marine Stadium. Baffins had a goal disallowed for offside in the first half.; Cowes had a couple of opportunities to take all 3 points when Scott McFarlane was unable to convert a volley, and man-of-the-match Jimmy Mumford struck the woodwork.
The goal leaves the Yachtsmen 12th in the table with 7 points from 5 games. On Saturday, Cowes host bottom-of-the-table Christchurch.
East Cowes Victoria 1-1 Hythe & Dibden
Also in the Wessex Premier, Vics were held at home by Hythe & Dibden after taking a first half lead through Josh Neale. The draw leaves the East Cowes side 9th in the table with 8 points from 6 games. On Saturday, Vics travel to Dorset to face 3rd-placed Sturminster Newton.
