PORT CLIMB DIV 1 TABLE AFTER NARROW VICTORY OVER ROMSEY TOWN

Newport have climbed 2 places in Wessex Division 1 after beating Romsey Town by the only goal of the game at Beatrice Avenue this afternoon (Saturday). With W&B not playing today, Port included 2 of their number in Saturday’s team: Tommy Jackson and Aidan Sainsbury. Before the start of tha game, centre forward Jordan Browne was presented with a trophy for reaching 200 appearances for Newport IW and 100 career goals earlier this season. Port began brightly with Joe Butcher terrorising the Romsey defence from the off. First, Butcher forced an early stop from Romsey keeper Bartram’s legs in the 3rd minute. Then – with Bartram in no man’s land – he hit the crossbar in the 8th minute. Butcher finally made the breakthrough in the 10th minute of the game, slotting the ball past Bartram, who was once again well off his line. The Port continued to dominate the remainder of the half without adding to their goal advantage. Half time: Newport IW 1-0 Romsey Town

Port manager Steve Brougham shuffled his pack at the start of the 2nd half, bringing on George Holbrook in place of Tommy Jackson. The home side’s main threat in the 2nd half came from the head of Jordan Browne: on the hour mark, Bartram was forced to tip a Browne header over the crossbar; a further header from the Port centre forward hit the Romsey woodwork 10 minutes from full time. Port failed to extend their lead in the 2nd half, but Romsey were unable to find an equalising goal and returned across the Solent pointless. Full time: Newport IW 1-0 Romsey Town

Newport IW: Pitman, Walsh, Thompsett, Oatley, McDonough (c), Watterson, Butcher (Parsons 86′), Jackson (Holbrook 53′), Browne, Sainsbury Catania Subs: Page, Sayers Man-of-the-match: Maca Watterson Port’s victory leaves the County Town club 14th in Wessex Division 1 with 39 points from 27 games. Newport are unbeaten in the 5 games they have played in March. This Tuesday (19th March), Newport travel to Southampton to face 3rd-placed Millbrook, following which they take on Folland Sports at Beatrice Avenue on Thursday (21st March).

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YACHTSMEN SALVAGE POINT AGAINST ANDOVER NEW STREET

Cowes Sports recovered from trailing by 2 goals to take a point at Westwood Park this afternoon with 2 goals from substitute Connor Kelly. The game began with a 15-minute delay, due to the referee being delayed by ferry difficulties. The 1st half began evenly, with both sides competitive. The Yachtsmen’s 1st scoring opportunity came in the 10th minute when centre forward McFarlane was bundled over in the penalty area with no spot kick awarded. Disaster struck for the home side in the 17th minute when Layton Tulk took advantage of a mishit pass from Hatt to put the Andover side into the lead (0-1). The Yachtsmen suffered a further blow when captain John McKie was forced off the pitch with possible hamstring trouble, to be replaced by the more-than-capable Connor Kelly. Andover New Street added a 2nd shortly before the half time interval when Lewis Williams took advantage of a poor pass from Colson to dispatch the ball into the bottom corner of the goal (0-2).

Half time: Cowes Sports 0-2 Andover New Street The Yachtsmen dominated the 2nd half, scoring twice but failing to find a 3rd goal that would bag all 3 points. Connor Kelly scored the opening goal for Cowes in the 67th minute by heading in a Colson cross (1-2). 7 minutes later, Kelly bagged his brace with a 1st time shot into the bottom corner of the goal (2-2). Kelly came close to scoring a hat trick 10 minutes from full time when he directed the ball under the body of Andover keeper O’Brien, only for O’Brien to recover the ball before it crossed the goal line. The Yachtsmen’s final chance to take all 3 points came 2 minutes from full time when O’Brien smothered a shot from George Carter-Knight from the edge of the 6-yard box.

Full time: Cowes Sports 2-2 Andover New Street Cowes Sports: Hatt, Hayward (W. Bridi 65′), West (Cranwell 57′), Triggs, Oatley, Colson, Cook, Hancott, McFarlane (Carter-Knight 50′), McKie (c) (Kelly 30′), Phillips Sub: G. Bridi (gk) Cowes Sports remain 8th in Wessex Division 1, 6 points behind 5th-placed Brockenhurst but with a game in hand. On Tuesday (19th March), Cowes Sports travel to Salisbury to face 6th-placed Laverstock & Ford.

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VICS HOLD PLAYOFF PLACE RIVALS ALRESFORD TO DRAW

East Cowes Vics came close to taking all 3 points in North Hampshire against Alresford Town but were denied by an 89th minute goal. Jez Conway opened the scoring for Vics with a free kick from around 25 yards shortly before the half time interval (0-1). In the 2nd half, Alresford were reduced to 10 men after 1 of their number received a 2nd yellow. However, Vics failed to take advantage of their extra man, with Alresford Town equalising in the 89th minute through Jamie Barnes (1-1). The busiest person on the pitch was apparently referee H. Waldron, who dished out a plentiful supply of yellow cards over the course of the game. Full time: Alresford Town 1-1 East Cowes Vics

East Cowes Vics: Ram, Snow, Yates, Newbold, Chase (c), Wheeler, Reynolds, Boyd-Kerr, Conway, Wright, Neale Subs: Chapman, Marsek, Mumford, Coode, Hart Vics’ draw against Alresford leaves them 5th in Wessex Division 1 with 54 points from 30 games, 3 points ahead of 6th-placed Fleetlands, who have 2 games in hand. On Tuesday (16th March), East Cowes Vics take on Fawley at Beatrice Avenue. Kick off is at 19:45.