Cowes Sports won at Petersfield while Newport stretched their unbeaten run and East Cowes Victoria were beaten at Beatrice Avenue.
VICS VANQUISHED BY STRUGGLING BRICKIES
East Cowes Victoria slipped to a 2-0 defeat against New Milton Town in the Wessex Premier – a side that had gone 13 games without a win until this afternoon.
The Vics welcomed New Milton to Beatrice Avenue on the back of an excellent midweek victory over 2nd-placed Hamble Club. Manager Alex Smith was forced into several changes with Liam Newbold ruled out through injury while Liam Triggs and Jordan Chapman were unavailable.
New Milton started the stronger and should have taken the lead inside 2 minutes when a misplaced pass gifted possession to a visiting forward, but his rushed effort drifted wide of an open goal.
The early pressure continued. Harry Smith headed over on 4 minutes before Joe Roberts dragged a shot wide a minute later as the visitors pressed for an early breakthrough.
The Vics struggled to find rhythm early on, their first effort arriving when Josh Neale tried his luck from distance, but Lloyd Thomas saved comfortably.
Jake Carswell fired wide on 23 minutes as the game settled into a scrappy rhythm full of misplaced passes.
The 176 spectators were finally lifted on 38 minutes when Elliot Wheeler produced a superb strike that Thomas tipped away brilliantly. The ball was quickly returned into the area, and Wheeler unleashed another powerful effort, but Thomas again produced a fine save.
Half Time: East Cowes Victoria 0-0 New Milton Town
The second half continued in much the same fashion, lacking quality but full of effort as both sides searched for the breakthrough.
That moment arrived on 75 minutes when Aedan Coode mistimed a challenge on James Coats inside the penalty area. After a brief pause, the referee pointed to the spot.
Substitute Ollie Lowes stepped up and calmly sent George Bridi the wrong way (0-1).
The Vics responded immediately. Josh Neale saw a goalbound effort deflected over on 77 minutes before Connor Kelly headed over moments later.
Raff Boyd-Kerr then rose highest on 88 minutes, but his header went straight at Thomas, as the home side pushed desperately for an equaliser.
With the Vics committing players forward, New Milton broke away deep into stoppage time, and Joe Roberts raced clear to finish confidently past Bridi (0-2).
Full Time: East Cowes Victoria 0-2 New Milton Town
East Cowes Victoria: Bridi, Snow, Boyd-Kerr, Wheeler, Yates, Wright (c), Hart, J Neale, Kelly, Reynolds, C Neale Subs: Coode, Wrag, Roberts, Barnes, Pitman.
Defeat leaves the Vics 13th in the Wessex Premier with 33 points from 24 games. New Milton remain 2nd-from-bottom. Vics next travel to Laverstock & Ford on Tuesday
NEWPORT EXTEND UNBEATEN RUN IN HARD-FOUGHT DRAW
Newport’s unbeaten run stretched to 11 matches after a fiercely contested 1-1 draw with Yateley United in Wessex Division 1.
On the balance of play, the first half belonged to the visitors. Nathan Connolly dragged an early effort wide while Yateley repeatedly tried to release the pace of winger Lynford Sackey with diagonal passes from the back.
Newport were missing suspended player-manager Joe Butcher and the hold-up play of Jordan Browne, but once again the home side showed resilience. The defence was superbly marshalled by skipper Macauley Watterson and Man-of-the-Match Neo Lamb, who battled on despite carrying a back injury.
The injury list grew when Joe Hancott was forced off with an ankle problem that is likely to keep him out for several weeks.
Jez Conway, returning from a calf injury, produced Newport’s best chance of the first half with a thunderous free kick that was well saved. At the other end, Leon Pitman matched it with an excellent full-length stop.
Half Time: Newport IW 0-0 Yateley United
Newport made the perfect start to the second half. Within 30 seconds, Ji Nash calmly finished from the edge of the area after good work from Joe Craig (1-0).
For the next quarter hour, Newport looked the more likely to add a second as Kai Grace became increasingly effective on the right, and Keelan Walsh’s energy lifted the midfield.
However, the visitors equalised on the hour mark when Mikey Thompsett inadvertently diverted the ball past his own goalkeeper (1-1).
Chances came and went at both ends late on, with a Yateley free kick flying just over while substitute Ben Ballinger helped create a half chance for Kudzi Mazambara that was deflected over.
There was a worrying moment near the end when Thompsett suffered a nasty cut after colliding with the perimeter wall, although he was able to walk from the field.
Soon after, Yateley’s Nathan Connolly was shown a straight red card for dissent.
Full Time: Newport IW 1-1 Yateley United
Newport IW: Pitman, Hancott, Watterson, Thompsett, Lamb, Craig, Linington, Grace, Young, Conway, Nash Subs: Egerton-Read, Walsh, Ballinger, Mazambara, Browne Man-of-the-match: Neo Lamb
The draw leaves Newport 6th in Wessex Division 1 with 53 points from 28 games, 2 points behind 5th-placed Cove. Port next travel to Fleetlands on Tuesday.
Cowes Sports claimed a vital 2-1 victory at Petersfield Town in the Wessex Premier.
The Yachtsmen struck first on 38 minutes when Scott McFarlane found the net to give the visitors the advantage (0-1).
Cowes doubled their lead shortly after the hour mark. Charlie Marsek added the second goal on 60 minutes to put the Islanders firmly in control (0-2).
Petersfield responded and reduced the deficit through Alfie Stringer, setting up a tense finish as the home side pushed forward in search of an equaliser (1-2).
However, Cowes held firm to secure a valuable away victory.
Full Time: Petersfield Town 1-2 Cowes Sports
Cowes Sports: Ram, Hughes, Mumford, Chase, Oatley, Colson, Cook, Phillips, Carter-Knight, Marsek, McFarlane.
The win leaves Cowes Sports 16th in the Wessex Premier with 28 points from 24 games. The Yachtsmen next travel to Millbrook on Tuesday.
YACHTSMEN EDGE PETERSFIELD TO BOOST SURVIVAL HOPES
