Newport bounced back from last Saturday’s disappointing defeat to Wessex Division 1 leaders Bemerton to defeat promotion rivals Andover New Street 2-1 in a hard-fought encounter at Smallbrook yesterday (Saturday).
This weekend’s game saw the welcome return of powerful centre-forward Jordan Browne to Newport’s starting line-up. New signing, former Portsmouth player Joe Hancott, was absent through illness.
After last week’s game, Bemerton manager Shaun Hale told Island Echo that he had done his homework on Newport and that the key to beating them was stopping the threat from the wide man, presumably meaning the electric pace of winger Connor Kelly. This Saturday, the Andover New Street management team of Jamie Coleman and John Smith appeared unprepared for the threat posed by Connor, allowing the winger to score twice in the 1st half before hitting the crossbar shortly before half time.
The Port began the game on the front foot with an Andover New Street defender slicing the ball in the 3rd minute, which bounced off their upright. The home side took the lead in the 22nd minute when Connor Kelly latched on to a long through ball from Joe Craig close to the half-way line before driving the ball down the pitch and neatly slotting it past the Andover keeper from 10 yards (1-0). It was a repeat performance from Kelly in the 31st minute when he drove the ball from inside his own half to inside the Street penalty area penalty area before once again clinically placing the ball in the back of the net (2-0).
Andover were far from finished with Joe McCormack forced to make a fine save to preserve the Port’s 2-goal advantage shortly before half time. Then, in stoppage time, Connor again broke free and drove the ball half the length of the pitch before hitting the Street crossbar. However, it was the visiting side who were to have the final word when Luke Hooper sent a powerful free kick from the edge of the Port penalty area past McCormack (2-1).
HT: Newport 2-1 Andover New Street
The 2nd half was a feisty affair with Joe Craig and Newport regular goalkeeper Gary Streeter (present in the technical area) both booked. Combative midfielder Jacob Reynolds was forced to leave the pitch nursing an injury. Andover New Street huffed and puffed but were unable to break down a resolute and determined Port defence. The home side also had their chances with Joe Butcher, Connor Kelly and Joe Craig all having opportunities to make victory certain. The 2 evenly matched teams cancelled each other out, and the Island side proved themselves able to hold on to their 1st half lead until the final whistle to keep all 3 points on the Island.
FT: Newport 2-1 Andover New Street
Newport: McCormack, Hughes, Younie, Burford, McDonough, Triggs, Kelly (Lamb), Reynolds (Wright), Browne, Craig, Butcher (Harper) Substitute goalkeeper: Hards
After the game a satisfied Newport co-manager Steve Brougham said:
“We got the right response from the team after last week’s defeat to Bemerton. The work rate and the commitment were both there.”
Newport’s win leaves them in 2nd place in the Wessex League 1 table with 43 points from 19 games, 4 points behind leaders Bemerton.
Wessex League 1: Petersfield Town 3-0 East Cowes Vics
Ill-discipline cost East Cowes Vics dear as they lost to the side immediately below them in the league table despite dominating for long periods of the game.
Vics began the game brightly with good chances falling to Toby Snow, Jamie Wright and and Harrison Yates in the opening 20 minutes. The balance of the game changed midway through the half after the sinbinning of the influential Jamie Wright. With the Island side reduced to 10 men, Max Padon scored a freakish goal for the Rams that bobbled through the defence and in off the back post on 25 minutes (1-0). Vics went 2-0 down in the 38th minute when Ryan Kennedy pounced on a ball the Vics defence had failed to clear in a goalmouth scramble (2-0).
HT Petersfield Town 2-0 East Cowes Vics
Vics suffered a double-blow early in the 2nd half when first Brandon Hayward was forced off the field of play injured to be replaced by 16-year-old George Terry, then the impetuous Jamie Wright was sent off for a 2-footed lunge. Despite being down to 10 men, Vics battled gamely to take the game to the Rams before Akoman-Ehikpa finished off the Island side with an 85th minute strike (3-0).
FT: Petersfield Town 3-0 East Cowes Vics
Defeat leaves Vics in 15th place in Wessex League 1 with 17 points from 19 games.
Wessex Premier: AFC Portchester 6-0 Cowes Sports
Portchester took revenge on the Yachtsmen for their 2-1 defeat at Westwood Park 3 weeks ago with an emphatic 6-0 victory.
Goals from Harvey Aston and Lee Wort left the Island side trailing 2-0 at half time. Worse was to follow after the interval with Lamin Jatta scoring 2 spectacular strikes to give Portchester a 4-goal advantage. Lee Wort then struck his 2nd from the penalty spot before Archie Lee-Greenough made the Yachtsmen’s misery complete by snatching a 6th goal shortly before the death.
After the match, Cowes Sports defender and part-time match commentator Callum Chase said:
“Portchester were always going to be up for the game after the controversy last time we played them, and if I’m being honest, we were well off the pace.
“Throughout the 90 minutes, Portchester worked harder, wanted it more and provided quality when it was needed the most. We had a few players missing, but this shouldn’t matter too much, because this is why we have a squad. It was a bad day at the office; the lads now need to have a good week training and prepare for the game next week.”
Defeat leaves Cowes in 17th place in the Wessex Premier table with 22 points from 19 games.
