Newport held East Cowes Victoria to a goalless draw at Beatrice Avenue in driving rain in front of a crowd of 555 in their last home game of the season.
For East Cowes Vics, with manager Alex Smith away, Stuart Simmonds took over for the day and was able to select both Gareth Bricknell and Scott Jones – both absent from the game at New Milton.
The Victorians started brightly and should have been in front after just 48 seconds when a Gareth Bricknell cross found Jacob Reynolds alone with time and space 6 yards out, but his effort was pushed over the bar by Port keeper Leon Pitman.
Pitman then saved superbly again from a Josh Neale effort on 2 minutes. At the other end of the pitch, a Jack Barsdell strike was thwarted by Vics keeper Alex Ram in the 10th minute.
The Victorians’ Raff Boyd-Kerr was unlucky on 12 minutes, sending his header just wide, and Harrison Yates also saw a 25-yard effort sail just past the upright on 16 minutes.
The East Cowes side were on top but Newport – with Ji Nash running into channels – were always dangerous, with Nash having a shot blocked by the legs of Ram in the 20th minute. Then, Toby Snow’s run and shot was saved by Pitman, who was keeping Newport in the game.
The final first half chances fell to the Victorians’ Josh Neale, who struck the ball past the post on 38 minutes before heading wide 3 minutes before the half time break.
Half time: Newport IW 0-0 East Cowes Victoria
At the start of the 2nd half, Port almost opened the scoring on 48 minutes, when a Jack Barsdell corner was cleared by Ram, with Joe Butcher sending a follow up shot wide under pressure from Vics defenders.
Vics were now in the ascendancy, with Josh Neale having a goal bound shot blocked on 50 minutes and Pitman called into action again to deny Reynolds on 55 minutes. A minute later, Rafferty Boyd-Kerr had a strike well saved again by Pitman.
Vics could and should have opened the scoring in the 58th minute, when an incisive Harrison Yates cross fell to Scott Jones a yard out and unmarked, but the centre forward chose to backheel the ball, which hit the inside of the post before bouncing back out to safety.
Pitman was then called into action again, saving superbly from a Josh Neale free kick on the hour. With Vics pushing for the breakthrough, chances for Reynolds, Jones and Wheeler failed to hit the target, and the game ended with an in form Newport gaining a point.
Full time: Newport IW 0-0 East Cowes Victoria
Newport IW: Pitman, Holbrook, Thompsett, Butcher, Watterson (c), Conway, Barsdell, Walsh, Nash, Craig, Grace Subs: Kirby, Linington, Brien, Arnold Man-of-the-match: Maca Watterson
East Cowes Victoria: Ram, Snow, Yates, Newbold (c), Wheeler, Boyd-Kerr, Reynolds, Coode, Jones, Bricknell, J. Neale Subs: Perrin, Sullivan, Hart, C. Neale, Voller Man-of-the match: Liam Newbold
With 1 game of their league season remaining, Newport are in 8th place in Wessex Division 1, with 57 points from 37 games.
East Cowes Vics – also with only 1 league game left to play – stay in the 4th spot, 2 points behind 3rd-placed Alresford Town, who have a game in hand over the East Cowes side.
The draw means Vics are unlikely to have home advantage in the Division 1 playoffs semi finals at the end of the league campaign.
