The Port needed to beat Infinity by 3 goals at Beatrice Avenue on Wednesday night to top Wessex League 1 and ended up scoring 11 in their biggest victory since 2014 when they beat Christchurch 12-0.
The match began with a minute’s silence for the much-respected former Newport manager Jock Horne, who unfortunately recently passed away.
Newport opened the scoring through Jordan Browne, who headed a Spike Pearce cross into the far corner of the goal with just 4 minutes on the clock (1-0). 5 minutes later, a Connor Kelly corner was met by Jacob Reynolds’ head at the far post (2-0). In the 21st minute, a further Jordan Browne effort put the Port top of the league, when he converted a Neo Lamb cross (3-0). Just 3 minutes later, Joe Craig sent a volley from the edge of the 6-yard box into the back of the net (4-0). Finally, Joe Butcher connected with a Connor Kelly cross with a diving header in the 27th minute (5-0).
Newport took a breather for the final 15 minutes of the 1st half, but a further deluge of goals was to follow after the interval.
HT: Newport IoW 5-0 Infinity
Within 5 minutes of the restart, the Port’s leading scorer, Jordan Browne, had secured his 2nd hat trick of the season, side-footing the ball into the back of the net after being set up by Joe Butcher (6-0). 3 minutes later, Josh Younie curled a free kick from the edge of the penalty area over the Infinity wall and into the goal (7-0).
Despite trailing by 7 goals, infinity did not give up the fight, with former Southampton player Jamie White knocking a low ball past Gary Streeter in the 66th minute (7-1). 3 minutes later, Jamie White again showed his class by setting up Kurt Watts to beat the experienced Port keeper for a 2nd time (7-2). Josh Younie responded for the Port by striking the crossbar with a 78th minute free kick.
The final 10 minutes of the game saw 4 Newport goals. First, Connor Kelly converted a penalty to score his 100th goal for the Port after Jacob Reynolds had been clattered over in the penalty area (8-2). Then, substitute Jake Wright had a shot parried by Infinity keeper Kieran Webster, for Jordan Browne to knock in the rebound (9-2). Finally, Josh Younie completed his hat trick in style, sending a low shot past Webster (10-2) and a further effort in off the far post (11-2).
FT: Newport IoW 11-2 Infinity
Newport IW: Streeter, Younie, Lamb, Burford, McDonough, Pearce, Kelly, Reynolds, Browne, Craig, Butcher Subs: Wright, McCormack, Hughes, Rayner, Harper
After the game, Newport co-manager Stewart Shepherd said:
“We did the business today. 11 goals says it all. We’ve had our little blip. A week ago, we were 6 points off 1st place, but now we’re back at the top of the table.”
The crowd of 103 included a spectator who had travelled all the way from Oldham to watch the game. The previous week, he had attended a match in the Isle of Man. When asked why he had come all this way to watch a game of football, David Nuttall said:
“I saw Newport play at Smallbrook Stadium in Ryde, but I’d never seen them playing at Beatrice Avenue in East Cowes.”
Having witnessed 13 goals, David cannot complain he did not get his money’s worth.
Newport are now in 1st place in Wessex League 1 with 34 points from 14 games, which they lead on goal difference from Bemerton and Folland Sports. The Port have a 100% home record with 5 wins out of 5 games played. They have scored 56 goals in the season so far at an average of exactly 4 goals a game.
Totton & Eling 1-1 East Cowes Vics
Vics travelled to Miller Park. Totton, on Tuesday evening and returned across the Solent with a point.
The Millers dominated the 1st half with Vics ‘keeper Alex Ram pulling off a number of fine saves to stop the Island side from falling behind. Totton & Eling took the lead in the 54th minute through an Alex Sawyer strike (1-0). Vics came back and goal attempts from Jimmi Burton (who hit the side-netting), Toby Snow and Ryan Gregory, who were both denied by interventions from Millers’ keeper Lewis Dumper.
3 minutes before full time, Toby Snow was flattened in the penalty area and Ryan Gregory dispatched the resulting spot kick with aplomb (1-1). Vics then had another very strong appeal for a penalty when Ollie West was bundled over in the box, but the referee did not point to the spot, possibly out of reluctance to award the away side 2 penalties in the closing stages.
After the game, Vics manager Richie Woodburn said:
“When you are 0-1 down and not playing well, you will take the draw. If you can pick up a point without being at your best, you are not doing badly.
“We have a big week ahead of us. We shall have to be much better when we face Verwood at Beatrice Avenue on Saturday.”
Vics’ draw leaves them in 17th place in Wessex League 1 with 11 points from 14 games.
Are Newport playing at Beatrice Avenue again ?
Apparently not. They have no further midweek games to play this season.