Newport beat bottom club Fleet Spurs at Smallbrook on Saturday (1st October) thanks to a Joe Butcher hat trick.
The Port began their Wessex League 1 fixture against Fleet Spurs with constant pressure and territorial advantage. In the 11th minute, Joe Butcher and Jordan Browne had shots parried by the Fleet Spurs keeper. Scott Barron then had a header saved by the keeper.
The breakthrough came in the 18th minute when Joe Butcher scored from 2 yards from the goal line after the ball had been headed down by Browne (1-0).
In the 36th minute, Josh Younie scored the goal of the game: a curling strike from a tight angle (2-0).
A minute later, Spurs pulled a goal back through Gavin Francis in their 1st and only serious scoring opportunity of the half (2-1).
In the 39th minute, Joe Butcher slid the ball past the Spurs keeper from the edge of the penalty area to restore thew Port’s 2-goal advantage (3-1).
Half time: Newport IoW 3-1 Fleet Spurs
2 minutes after the half time interval, Fleet Spurs Ryan Goddard forced Leon Pitman to make 2 excellent saves. However, for the remainder of the 2nd half, all the scoring opportunities went to the County Town team.
In the 49th minute, Joe Butcher had a strong near post shot stopped by the Fleet Spurs keeper. In the 56th minute, Jordan Browne also saw his effort stopped on the line by the keeper. Butcher then shot just wide.
Butcher scored his hat trick in the 58th minute, knocking the ball into the goal from 5 yards after being set up by Josh Younie (4-1).
Jordan Browne then saw an effort tipped over the bar by the Spurs keeper.
Jacob Reynolds – who had just come on as substitute – scored Port’s 5th 15 minutes from full time after having been set by Joe Butcher (5-1).
Full time: Newport IoW 5-1 Fleet Spurs
Newport: Pitman, Colson, Oatley, Hancott, Barron, Triggs (c), Kelly, Boyd-Kerr, Browne, Younie, Butcher Subs: Reynolds, Smith, Lamb (all used) Streeter (gk)
Man-of-the-match: Liam Triggs
After the game, Port manager Steve Brougham said:
“I was very pleased with the performance. We played in a very professional manner, but it took us a while to score.”
Newport’s win sees them advance to 8th place in Wessex League 1 with 12 points from 5 games.
Video highlights: Robert Lunn
VERWOOD TOWN 1-1 EAST COWES VICS
3rd-from-bottom Vics came home from Dorset after having taken a creditable point from 6th-placed Verwood Town.
Vics trailed 1-0 at half time after a long ball was misjudged by a defender to allow McWilliams to score in the 23rd minute.
However, Vics took the game to the Potters in the 2nd half with Jordan Chapman equalizing for the East Cowes side in the 50th minute.
Vics had several opportunities to take all 3 points, with Harrison Yates twice hoofing the ball over the crossbar and having a further effort blocked by a defender. Teenage strikers Toby Snow and Charlie Marsek were also guilty of profligate finishing.
Verwood had an excellent chance to win the game at the death, but their striker delayed his shot for too long, and goalkeeper Alex Ram was able to salvage the ball and the point for the Island side.
Vics: Ram, Walsh, Berry, White, K Woodford, Newbold, Sheerin, Chapman, Marsek, Snow, Yates Subs: B. Woodford, Barton, Lacey
After the game, Vics manager Richie Woodburn said:
“We’ve only lost twice in 7 games, but we are still 3rd-from bottom. We just keep drawing. However, if you go in behind at half time , you’re happy with a point.”
Vics remain in 18th place in Wessex League 1 with 7 points from 7 league games.
This Tuesday (4th October), Vics face Fareham Town in the Wessex League cup at Beatrice Avenue.
COWES SPORTS 0-0 PORTLAND UNITED
In a dull game of few chances, the Yachtsman had goalkeeper Ed Hatt – making his 400th appearance – to thank for salvaging a point against Portland.
Cowes had a few 1st half opportunities to score with Harri Catania shooting high and wide in the 4th minute, and Jez Conway heading just over the crossbar in the 27th minute. However, the Yachtsmen had Ed Hatt to thank for going into the half time break on equal terms when he pulled off a crucial save 8 minutes before the interval.
The 2nd half had a similar pattern to the 1st with John McKie turning his marker in the 50th minute and Aedan Coode having a shot blocked on the line on the 56th. However, it was Hatt who ensured Cowes came away with a point with 2 vital saves in the 61st and 84th minutes.
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Mumford, McFarlane, White, West, Conway, Catania, Hayward, McKie (c), Coode, Ahmed Subs: J. Neale, Perrin, C. Neale, Fever-Norton, Laird
The draw leaves the Yachtsmen in 14th place in the Wessex Premier with 7 points from 7 games.
On Tuesday evening, Cowes Sports face Laverstock & Ford at Westwood Park in their next Wessex League fixture.
