Ji Nash celebrated his 100th goal in Newport colours with a hat-trick as Port demolished promotion rivals Ringwood Town at WightFibre Park.
Newport produced an excellent first-half display, racing into a 4-goal lead before the interval and eventually hitting their visitors for 6 in front of 365 spectators, the highest attendance across both Wessex League divisions on Saturday (7th November).
Newport were on top from the start, putting Ringwood under pressure and sending a couple of early efforts narrowly wide. Port’s bright opening paid off in the 14th minute when Connor Kelly broke the deadlock to give the home side a deserved lead (1–0).
Ringwood managed to keep Newport at bay for the next 20 minutes, but 2 goals in the space of a minute put Port firmly in control. Ji Nash made it 2–0 in the 35th minute before Jordan Browne added a third almost immediately (3–0).
Things went from bad to worse for the New Forest visitors just before the break when they conceded an own goal in the 44th minute (4–0). Newport went into the dressing room with a commanding lead after an excellent first-half performance.
Half Time: Newport IW 4–0 Ringwood Town
Newport picked up where they had left off when Nash grabbed his second of the afternoon in the 61st minute (5–0). The goal was a special one for the Port striker, taking his tally to 100 in a Newport shirt.
With the game seemingly won, Newport brought on Pearson and Kudzi Mazambara for Josh Younie and Jordan Browne. Ringwood pulled a goal back through Pothas in the 81st minute (5–1), before Mullins added a second for the visitors 7 minutes later (5–2).
Port had the last word, however, as Nash completed his hat-trick at the death (6–2). It rounded off a memorable afternoon for the Newport striker and capped an impressive attacking performance from the home side.
Full Time: Newport IW 6–2 Ringwood Town
Newport IW: Pitman, Grace, Butcher, Hancott, Conway, Catania, Nash, Younie, Browne (c), Walsh, Kelly Subs: Pearson, Mazambara, Holbrook, Linington, Myram
Attendance: 365
The win saw Newport leapfrog Ringwood into 4th place in Wessex League Division One, with both clubs on 28 points. Crucially, Port have played just 14 games compared with Ringwood’s 17, giving them 3 games in hand over their promotion rivals.
