Newport moved into the Wessex Division One promotion play-off places with a hard-earned away victory yesterday afternoon (Saturday, 31st October).
Goals from Ji Nash, Connor Kelly and substitute Keelan Walsh secured the points for Port, who withstood considerable second-half pressure before sealing victory.
With captain Macauley Watterson serving the final match of his 3-game suspension, Newport retained Harri Catania and Jez Conway in central defence, while Kudzi Mazambara started in midfield.
The Stallions made the brighter start. Erdinc headed narrowly wide from a 9th-minute corner, before teammate Nicholas broke through 2 minutes later but curled his effort past the post.
Newport gradually settled, with Conway firing over following a Josh Younie corner and Nash testing the home keeper.
Younie’s free kick struck the crossbar in the 25th minute, but Port broke the deadlock just a minute later. Kelly crossed from the left for Nash to volley home from 6 yards (0–1).
Nash almost added a second before Kelly doubled Newport’s lead on the half hour mark, beating his defender on the right and drilling a shot across the keeper into the far corner (0–2).
Newport threatened again before the interval, with Nash narrowly failing to set up Kelly for a simple finish, while Colden Common were denied by determined defending and wayward shooting.
Half Time: Colden Common 0–2 Newport IW
The Stallions emerged strongly after the break and reduced the deficit in the 55th minute when Bicknell fired into the top-right corner following good work from Parker and Middleton (1–2).
With Colden Common pressing for an equaliser, Newport goalkeeper Leon Pitman produced 2 important saves, while the visitors also survived a succession of corners.
Kelly fired narrowly wide in the 70th minute before the Stallions’ keeper made a fine double save to deny Joe Hancott 3 minutes later.
Kelly then delivered another dangerous cross that Nash could not quite reach. Colden Common shot over in the 81st minute, while Hancott went close again at the opposite end.
Newport finally settled the contest in the 85th minute when Jordan Browne dispossessed a defender, allowing substitute Keelan Walsh to finish calmly (1–3).
Full Time: Colden Common 1–3 Newport IW
Newport IW: Pitman, Grace, Butcher, Hancott, Catania, Conway, Nash, Younie, Browne (c), Mazambara, Kelly Subs: Linington, O’Neill, Pearson, Walsh, Myram.
The victory lifts Newport into 5th place in Wessex Division One, occupying the final promotion play-off position with 25 points from 13 matches. Port are just 4 points behind joint leaders Sandhurst Town and New Milton Town and boast the division’s best goal difference of +22.
Newport are also the division’s joint-highest scorers with 38 goals, while Nash’s latest strike takes his league tally to 15 for the season.
VICS’ WINLESS STREAK CONTINUES DESPITE YATES WONDER GOAL
East Cowes Vics’ winless league run stretched to 10 matches following their home defeat against Bashley on Saturday (31st October).
Joint managers Alex Smith and Elliot Wheeler were again forced to shuffle their squad, although Liam Triggs returned to the substitutes’ bench.
Bashley took the lead after just 3 minutes when a break down the right ended with Jack Lovell tapping home (0–1).
The visitors continued to threaten, with Lovell, Joseph Freak and Joshua Hall all shooting wide before Vics drew level spectacularly in the 24th minute. Harrison Yates found space on the edge of the penalty area and unleashed a powerful drive into the top corner, giving goalkeeper Benjamin Taylor no chance (1–1).
The game’s major talking point came in the 31st minute when Jordan Chapman appeared to have put Vics ahead. However, following a lengthy discussion between the officials, the goal was controversially disallowed for offside.
Bashley regained the lead in the 39th minute when Stephen Walker’s header from a corner found its way through a crowd of players and over the line (1–2).
Just 3 minutes later, Harry Baker poked home from inside the 6-yard box to extend the visitors’ advantage (1–3).
Half Time: East Cowes Vics 1–3 Bashley
Vics introduced Elliot Wheeler and Liam Triggs at the interval and looked a more organised side after the restart.
Char Haward raced clear in the 57th minute but dragged his effort narrowly wide of the far post.
The hosts enjoyed the better of the second half, with Bashley offering little attacking threat, but clear-cut chances were scarce. Raff Boyd-Kerr came closest to reducing the deficit, forcing Taylor into a good save.
Full Time: East Cowes Vics 1–3 Bashley
East Cowes Vics: G. Bridi, Snow, Yates, Newbold, West, W. Bridi, Dyer, Haward, Boyd-Kerr, Hart, Chapman Subs: Mooney, Wheeler, Wall, Triggs, Barnes
Man of the Match: Harrison Yates
Attendance: 192
The defeat leaves Vics 19th in the Wessex Premier Division with 11 points from 12 games, just 1 place above the relegation positions.
