East Cowes Vics are dangerously close to a relegation spot following a defeat by Newport IW FC in a local derby on Tuesday night.
Newport IW FC made 2 changes to the side that had an unlucky 3-3 draw against Romsey Town on Saturday, with veteran Gary Streeter replacing young Alex Ram in goal and Mark Taylor
taking the place of the unavailable Lewis Wright in midfield.
The Port kicked off towards the Queensgate Primary School end on a playable pitch in sub-zero temperatures. The game began at breakneck speed with both Island sides probing each others’ defence for weaknesses.
Newport took the lead with only 5 minutes on the clock when Mark Taylor burst into the penalty area and sent a low shot to the right of Steinborn-Busse in the Vics goal. The opposition keeper could only parry the ball leaving Joe Craig with a simple tap in. (1-0)
Vics were unlucky not to grab an equalizer 4 minutes later when Brandon Hayward was fouled by Scott Sampson in the penalty area and the referee had little hesitation in awarding a spot-kick to the home side. Vics captain, Ryan Gregory, sent a powerful low shot to the left of the goal only for Gary Streeter to parry the ball away.
In the 13th minute, Vics almost scored again when former Newport defender Liam Newbold had a header saved off the line by Mark Taylor. Steinborn-Busse in the Vics goal prevented his side from going further behind when he made a spectacular, acrobatic save to prevent Spike Pearce from scoring with a flying header. In the 43rd minute, Vics defender, Ollie West, managed to get the goal in the net for the ‘home’ side, but his effort was ruled offside by the referee.
Ollie West found himself in action once more in the 45th minute, when the defender sent an unfortunate pass to the in-form Connor Kelly, for the flying winger to burst into the box, send a shot past Steinborn-Busse, which hit the post before rebounding into the back of the net and send the Port into half time with a 2 goal advantage.
HT: East Cowes Vics 0-4 Newport IW
The second half began with a period of Newport pressure, forcing Vics to concede a series of corners. In the 47th minute, Connor Kelly broke through the Vics defence only to send his shot past the post. A minute later, Ryan Hughes had a shot which was cleared off the goal line. In the 50th minute, Connor Kelly sent a curling shot round the far post. 2 minutes later, it was Ryan Houghes’ turn to hit the side netting.
The Port added finally to their lead in the 64th minute after a somewhat bizarre sequence of events. A ball was cleared out of the Newport defence, hitting the referee, When play restarted with a dropped ball, Gary Streeter hoofed a long ball into the Vics penalty area, for the ball to be headed down by Liam Newbold into the path of Joe Craig, who sent a low shot past Steinborn-Busse in the Vics goal.
Given the unfortunate events of Saturday, when Newport squandered a 3 goal advantage, a 3 goal cushion was judged insufficient to guarantee victory. The Port continued to press a tiring Vics side, with Mark Taylor adding a fourth goal in the 82nd minute, his second of the game, when he sent a low strike from the left after an almighty goalmouth scramble.
FT: East Cowes Vics 0-4 Newport IW
Newport: Streeter, Hughes (Jake Wright 85), Lamb (J Yates 90+4), Reynolds (H Yates 85), McDonough, Sampson, Kelly, Pearce, Craig, Browne, Taylor
East Cowes Vics: Steinborn-Busse, Gregory, H West, O West, Newbold (catania 75), Chapman, Waterson,, Hayward (Kirby 46), Greenslade, Conway (Saunders 41), Burton
Goals: Newport: Craig 5, 64; Kelly 45; Taylor 84
Newport’s win leaves them in 7th position in the Wessex League One table, 9 points behind behind the promotion places at the top of the table. On Saturday 25th January, the Port travel
away to Fawley, who currently lie in 16th place.
East Cowes Vics’ defeat leaves them in 17th position, one place above those sides destined for relegation. On Saturday, Vics have a home fixture against mid-table Petersfield United at
Beatrice Avenue – kick-off at 15:00.
