Man-of-the-match McDonoughNewport were beaten by 2 late goals at Beatrice Avenue on Thursday evening by the team immediately below in the table: Folland Sports. Folland have a habit of soaking up pressure from Island sides before landing some heavy punches as they had proved in their 3-0 win against East Cowes Vics earlier in the month. Port began brightly with Joe Butcher sending a curling shot over the crossbar in the 6th minute, Michael Thompsett narrowly missing the left post in the 18th, Joe Butcher directing a 30-yard effort towards the away side’s goal, and Jordan Browne attempting a backheel from the edge of the 6-yard box. The breakthrough nearly came in the 36th minute when the returning Scott Barron struck the cross bar with a curling shot from a tight angle. Josh Younie and Michael Thompsett then had further opportunities to break the 1st half deadlock for Port, but it wasn’t to be. Follands offered little going forward, with Port keeper Pitman a virtual spectator throughout the 1st half. Half time: Newport IW 0-0 Folland Sports The 2nd half began with Port pressure and Harri Catania hoofing the ball over the crossbar, following which Josh Appell hit the ball wide from a promising position. Newport then brought on Fin Kalaker half way through the 2nd half. The home side were denied by the woodwork for the 2nd time in the game in the 70th minute when Josh Younie struck the upright. However, Folland Sports proved the stronger side in the last 20 minutes of the game, having 2 shots blocked in the 71st minute before Pitman parried the ball for a corner in the 76th. Handball! The opening goal came 9 minutes from full time from the head of Ashton Palmer (0-1). Port manager Brougham then threw on 2 late substitutes: Sonny Myram and Lewis Parsons. The final sucker punch for Folland was in the 1st minute of injury time when John Carey added the Planemakers’ 2nd with a close-range effort (0-2). Full time: Newport IW 0-2 Folland SportsJordan BrowneNewport IW: Pitman, Lamb, McDonough (Myram), Barron, Thompsett, Oatley, Catania (Parsons), Butcher, Browne, Younie, Appell (Kalaker) Subs: Page, Walsh After the game, Newport Chairman John Davies said:
“Newport played most of the football with some clever neat close range passing but too often it broke down in the final 3rd with too many shots going off target. “However, considering the recent workload and the heavy defeat on Tuesday, the response in terms of effort and commitment was outstanding. Man of the match Marty McDonough and Neo Lamb at the back were solid, Matt Oatley and the tireless Josh Appell dominated midfield, and striker Jordan Browne was always battling hard with his back to goal. “This game can best be summed up as a smash and grab raid by Folland Sports but fair play to them for executing their game plan so well.”
Newport’s defeat leaves them 15th in Wessex Division 1 with 39 points from 29 games. This Saturday, Port face bottom club AFC Aldermaston at Beatrice Avenue with kick off at 15:00.
The 2nd half began with Port pressure and Harri Catania hoofing the ball over the crossbar, following which Josh Appell hit the ball wide from a promising position. Newport then brought on Fin Kalaker half way through the 2nd half. The home side were denied by the woodwork for the 2nd time in the game in the 70th minute when Josh Younie struck the upright. However, Folland Sports proved the stronger side in the last 20 minutes of the game, having 2 shots blocked in the 71st minute before Pitman parried the ball for a corner in the 76th. 
