PORT CELEBRATE 136TH BIRTHDAY BY BATTERING ALRESFORD AT BEATRICE AVENUE

Newport comprehensively beat 2nd-placed Alresford Town today (Saturday) despite having a player sent off and another sinbinned in the 2nd half. The Port began the game brightly with a Josh Younie free kick going just over the crossbar in the 9th minute, following which Nicky Vyse just failed to put the ball into an open net moments later. However, it was Alresford who took the lead in the 12th minute when Scott Hills curled the ball past a defender and into the Newport goal (0-1). Falling behind galvanised the County Town club with man-of-the-match Jordan Browne chesting a Josh Younie corner into the goal in the 23rd minute: his 199th time on target for the Port (1-1).

Port continued to press the Magpies, with a flying header from Joe Butcher going inches wide a minute later. Newport took the lead in the 38th minute through Nicky Vyse (2-1) to reach the half time beak with a goal advantage over their high flying opponents.

Half time: Newport (IoW) 2-1 Alresford Town Port created a 2-goal cushion for themselves in the 52nd minute when Joe Butcher slotted the ball past the Alresford keeper and into an empty net (3-1). Joe Craig then came close to extending Port’s goal advantage but was denied by a crucial save from the Magpies’ keeper. Disaster struck for the home side when Joe Craig was harshly sent off for perceived violent conduct. The Newport No 10 had been pushed over by an Alresford player and appeared to have caught his opponents head with his hand whilst falling.

Matt Oatley was also sinbinned for questioning the referee’s decision, and the ‘Port were down to 9 men. The Magpies pressed Port for the remainder of the 2nd half, but some determined defending and poor finishing ensured the home side preserved their 2-goal lead until the final whistle. Full time: Newport (IoW) 3-1 Alresford Town

Newport (IoW): Pitman, Tompsett, McDonough, Catania, Walsh (Page ’65), Oatley, Browne, Craig, Butcher, Vyse (Myram ’80), Younie (Parsons ’80) Subs: Streeter (gk), Sayers After the game, Port manager Steve Brougham said:

“We were the better team, despite conceding an early goal. The result says it all. “It was a harsh sending off. Joe didn’t do anything wrong.”

Newport’s win sees the County Town club rise to 16th in Wessex Division 1 with 22 points from 18 games. The Port have 10 games in hand on the side immediately above in the league table: Ringwood Town. This Wednesday, Newport play Clanfield at Beatrice Avenue. Kick off is at 19:45.

YACHTSMEN’S 9-GAME UNBEATEN RUN SUNK BY SHERBORNE

Cowes Sports were beaten 4-2 by Sherborne town in a game marred by the sinbinning of captain Ryan Oatley and the sending off of manager Max Draper. The Zebras took the lead in the 13th minute through Anthony Herrin, whose shot bounced off the bar but was ruled to have crossed the line by the linesman (1-0). The Dorset side increased their lead to 2 goals in the 21st minute when Josh Williams headed in a corner (2-0). However, the Yachtsmen reduced the deficit to a single goal on the half hour mark through a superb 30-yard run from Connor Kelly, who then shot the ball into the top right corner (2-1). 5 minutes later, Cowes were back on level terms when Scott McFarlane chested down a Mumford cross, which Ryan Oatley struck into the right corner of the goal (2-2). The Yachtsmen could have taken the lead 2 minutes before the half time interval when centre forward Scott McFarlane was upended in the Zebra’s penalty area, but the referee gave a dropped ball rather than a penalty. Half time: Sherborne Town 2-2 Cowes Sports Having recovered from being 2 goals down in the 1st half, the Yachtsmen conceded 2 further 2nd half goals. The Zebras regained their lead in the 57th minute when Callum Thompson poached a ball spilled by Ed Hatt (3-2). 5 minutes later, Thompson bagged his brace by beating the offside trap and slotting the ball into the empty net (4-2). The Yachtsmen continued to battle with Scott McFarlane heading past the post in the 75th minute, and George Carter-Knight forcing a great save from the Sherborne keeper in the 84th. The match ended in controversy, with skipper Ryan Oatley sinbinned (apparently for swearing) and manager Max red carded. Full time: Sherborne Town 4-2 Cowes Sports Cowes Sports: Hatt, White (Carter-Knight ’67), West, Triggs, Oatley (c), Colson, Dempsey, Cook, McFarlane, Mumford (Neale ’77), Kelly Subs: Holden, Weeks, Bridi The Yachtsmen’s defeat leaves them 7th in the Wessex Premier with 38 points from 21 games, just 2 points behind 5th-placed Brockenhurst but with 4 games in hand. This Tuesday, the Yachtsmen travel to Eastleigh to face league leaders Stoneham in the quarter finals of the Velocity Wessex League Cup. Kick off is at the earlier time of 19:15.

VICTORY FOR VICS KEEPS EAST COWES SIDE IN CHASE FOR PLAYOFF PLACE

East Cowes Vics beat Frimley Green by the only goal of the game. Vics’ trip to Surrey appeared headed for a drab goalless draw until the home side were reduced to 10 men following an 82nd minute red card. The Beatrice Avenue boys had defender Liam Newbold to thank for the 3 points, who scored just 2 minutes from the full time whistle. Earlier in the game, Newbold had saved his side from trailing by a goal by clearing the ball off the goal line. Full time: Frimley Green 0-1 East Cowes Vics East Cowes Vics: Ram, Snow, Yates, Newbold, Chase, Chapman, Reynolds, Boyd-Kerr, Conway, Nash, Marsek Subs: Young, Mumford, Neale, Wheeler, Berry Vics’ win leaves the East Cowes side 6th in Wessex Division 1, 3 points behind 5th-placed Cove.