Newport IW FC comfortably won their 1st competitive fixture at Smallbrook Stadium in Ryde on Saturday to go 2nd in the Wessex League 1 table.
The Port scored 36 goals in their 5 pre-season friendly fixtures and conceded a mere 2 goals in reply, scoring an average of 7 goals per game. The team’s strong and experienced side appear to be able to convert their incredible sparring form into positive results in competitive games in Wessex League 1.
Newport went on the attack right from the start of the game, with early chances falling to Jacob Reynolds, Connor Kelly and Joe Butcher. In the 18th minute, the electric pace of flying winger, Kelly, saw him round the Romsey keeper, but saw his attempted pass to the Port forward line cleared by the Romsey defence. However, Jacob Reynolds was able to smash the ball into the Romsey goal from 5 yards from the resulting corner (1-0).
The Island side then went 2 goals up in the 23rd minute after Aaron Burford was held in the penalty area and Connor Kelly coolly dispatched the resulting spot kick past Josh Cotton in the Romsey goal (2-0). John Cole then pulled a goal back for the visitors (2-1). In the 35th minute, Spike Pearce restored the Port’s 2-goal advantage with a volley from the middle of the penalty area (3-1).
HT: Newport IW 3-1 Romsey Town
The Port continued to attack in the 2nd half with the pace of Connor Kelly running the Romsey defence ragged. First, Joe Butcher had a good scoring opportunity stopped by the Romsey keeper and then Jordan Browne had a strong header saved by Cotton. The fourth goal finally came in the 59th minute when a Connor Kelly cross found an unmarked Joe Butcher in the middle of the Romsey penalty area, for the Newport forward to calmly place the ball in the back of the Romsey net (4-1).
Newport had further scoring opportunities late on in the game with Joe Butcher and Connor Kelly going close. Returning striker, Jared Wetherick, who came on as substitute in the closing stages of the game, put on a good cameo performance, first heading the ball just wide in the 87th minute, then seeing a further effort bounce of the crossbar in the 3rd minute of injury time.
FT: Newport IW 4-1 Romsey Town
Newport IW: Streeter, Younie, Lamb, Burford, McDonough, Pearce, Kelly, Reynolds, Browne, Craig, Butcher Subs: Barron, Cousins, McArthur, Wetherick
After the match, Newport co-manager, Steve Brougham, said:
“It was a great team performance. Romsey are a very good side but we could have scored 8 or 9 goals. We have a game against Petersfield next week, which is always a tough place to go to, so we must keep our feet on the ground.”
In the other game played in Wessex League 1, East Cowes Vics lost their opening league fixture 0-2 to league newcomers, Infinity. Vics finished the game with 10 men after Jamie Wright was sent off for a 2nd yellow card offence.
The Yachtsmen were knocked out of the FA Cup in the extra preliminary round, losing 5-1 to Blackfield & Langley. Ji Nash was the scorer of the late consolation goal for Cowes.
