Newport Reserves came from behind to win the first Whippingham Derby at WightFibre Park and move to the top of Isle of Wight Division 2.
A 3-figure crowd braved torrential rain to watch the first meeting between the 2 clubs at Newport’s new ground. Separated by just 2 miles and sharing the PO32 postcode, the sides were able to meet despite the downpour thanks to WightFibre Park’s artificial pitch.
The weather caused widespread disruption to the Island’s football programme, with only 3 Isle of Wight League fixtures going ahead. Both scheduled Wessex League matches involving Island clubs – Cowes Sports against Sherborne Town and East Cowes Vics against Christchurch – were postponed.
Newport’s first team had no fixture scheduled, while Vics’ postponement meant both clubs could call upon players with first-team experience. The Port included Joe Butcher, Harrison Catania and Jordan Browne, while Vics fielded Connor Mooney and Toby Snow, with Travis Pitman among their substitutes.
Vics also handed a debut to prolific Island League goalscorer Emerson Tattersall, who recently joined from Cowes Sports. Tattersall had previously spent several years at Ventnor, scoring prolifically before the club disbanded. His brother Charlie Urry, who also played for Ventnor before joining Vics, was alongside him in the visiting side. Both previously represented Newport.
The visitors made an impressive start, with Tattersall posing a constant threat to the home defence. He sent a free kick over the crossbar in the 5th minute, before Mooney fired over 5 minutes later. Tattersall then missed another opportunity from a promising position in the 12th minute.
Vics’ early pressure was rewarded in the 24th minute when Tattersall found the net from the centre of the penalty area (0–1).
Newport gradually took control, equalising on the half hour mark when Dan Pearson curled an effort beyond Vics goalkeeper Ben Woodford (1–1).
Joe Butcher then tested Woodford with a low free kick, before Pearson struck again in the 34th minute to put Newport ahead (2–1).
Pearson almost completed a first-half hat-trick in the 41st minute, but another curling effort was kept out by Woodford, who produced a series of further good saves before the interval.
Half Time: Newport (IOW) Reserves 2–1 East Cowes Vics Reserves
Tattersall was replaced at half-time by former Ventnor teammate Robert Gee.
Newport immediately resumed their attacks, with Robbie Shepherd denied by Woodford within a minute of the restart. Riley Wain came close to adding a third in the 48th minute, although Vics threatened at the other end when Newport goalkeeper Cottingham denied Charlie Hayward in the 55th minute.
Barrow blasted an effort over the crossbar 2 minutes later, before Woodford made further saves in the 62nd and 68th minutes as Newport pressed for a third goal.
Newport finally extended their advantage in the 70th minute when Catania struck from just inside the D (3–1).
The Port continued to create chances as Vics struggled to stem the flow of attacks. Shepherd made it 4–1 in the 83rd minute, sending a shot across the face of goal and into the net.
Catania saved the best until last, unleashing a spectacular strike from outside the penalty area in the 87th minute to complete his brace (5–1).
Full Time: Newport (IOW) Reserves 5–1 East Cowes Vics Reserves
Newport’s superiority in the closing stages could have produced an even greater winning margin, but Woodford’s outstanding performance prevented a heavier defeat.
The victory takes Newport to the top of Division 2 with 13 points from 5 games, ahead of ECS on goal difference. Vics remain 5th with 6 points from 6 matches.
NITON 2–7 NEWCHURCH
Scott Parker scored 4 times as Newchurch overwhelmed bottom club Niton in the day’s other Division 2 fixture.
Parker struck in the 20th, 25th and 31st minutes to complete a first-half hat-trick before adding his fourth in the 71st minute. Kenneth Young (56′), Matthew Ogden (63′) and Aaron Doncaster (86′) were also on target for the visitors.
The victory leaves Newchurch 4th in Division 2 with 12 points from 6 games, level on points with 3rd-placed Ryde Saints, who have played 2 games fewer. Niton remain bottom without a point from 6 matches, having conceded 43 goals.
DIVISION 2 LEAGUE TABLE
| Pos | Team | P | W | D | L | GD | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Newport (IOW) Reserves | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | +22 | 13 |
| 2 | ECS | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | +14 | 13 |
| 3 | Ryde Saints | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | +15 | 12 |
| 4 | Newchurch | 6 | 4 | 0 | 2 | +8 | 12 |
| 5 | East Cowes Vics Reserves | 6 | 2 | 0 | 4 | +5 | 6 |
| 6 | Osborne Coburg | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | +5 | 6 |
| 7 | Seaview | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | −28 | 0 |
| 8 | Niton | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 | −41 | 0 |
In Combination 2, Northwood St Johns Reserves recorded a comfortable 0–4 away victory over Brading Town A in the only fixture played in the division.
