Newport boosted their playoff push with a win this afternoon (Saturday), while East Cowes Victoria came unstuck and Cowes Sports were beaten.
Newport came from behind to secure an impressive win over Ash United at Westwood Park and strengthen their bid for a top-5 finish in Wessex Division 1.
Before the game, Newport captain Maca Watterson was presented with a trophy to mark his 100th appearance for the club.
Port made a flying start and struck the woodwork twice in the opening minutes, first hitting the crossbar and then, moments later, the upright.
Ji Nash then had a golden opportunity to give the home side the lead, but the Ash goalkeeper produced an excellent save to deny him.
Despite Newport’s dominance, it was the visitors who struck first with their opening attack. Morris Musselwhite delivered a cross for Luke Cairns to head home (0-1).
Port continued to press and were repeatedly denied by the woodwork. Joe Craig saw a shot tipped onto the post before Joe Butcher rattled the frame of the goal moments later, the 4th time Newport had hit the woodwork inside the opening 12 minutes.
The equaliser finally arrived on 27 minutes when Nash blasted home from the centre of the penalty area into the roof of the net (1-1).
Half Time: Newport 1-1 Ash United
Newport took the lead early in the 2nd half when substitute Michael Thompsett, with his first touch of the game, headed home a Joe Butcher corner on 47 minutes (2-1).
Ash threatened to respond and came close from a free kick, but Leon Pitman produced a vital save to preserve the advantage.
Nash remained a constant threat and was first manhandled by an Ash defender before later being brought down by the goalkeeper, but no penalty was awarded.
Ji then made certain of the result in the 7th minute of injury time, finishing clinically from a Ballinger through ball to seal the victory (3-1) and take his tally to 31 goals for the season.
Full Time: Newport 3-1 Ash United
Newport: Pitman, Lamb, Watterson, Holbrook, Grace, Craig, Young, Butcher, Walsh, Browne, Nash. Subs: Egerton-Read, Benford, Thompsett, Conway, Ballinger. Man-of-the-Match: Young.
The win leaves Newport 3 points and 2 places behind 5th-placed Cove, who currently occupy the final playoff place, with a game in hand. Port face Cove on Tuesday evening (19:30 kick-off), with victory potentially returning the County Town club to the playoff positions.
YACHTSMEN HAMMERED BY HAMWORTHY FOR 2ND TIME IN 3 DAYS
Fielding a makeshift side, Cowes Sports endured another difficult afternoon as Hamworthy Recreation ran out 3-0 winners.
The Yachtsmen, forced into changes, found themselves behind early on when Max Wilcock gave the hosts the lead after 8 minutes (1-0).
Hamworthy doubled their advantage on the stroke of half time – Wilcock adding his 2nd of the afternoon (2-0).
Cowes showed resilience after the break and were handed a lifeline when goalkeeper Alex Ram produced an excellent penalty save on 52 minutes to keep the score down.
However, Hamworthy continued to control the contest and added a 3rd goal on 71 minutes – Ash Pope converting from the penalty spot to seal the victory (3-0).
Despite their efforts, the Yachtsmen were unable to respond and slipped to back-to-back defeats against the same opposition.
Full Time: Hamworthy Recreation 3-0 Cowes Sports
Cowes Sports: Ram, S Backshall, Mumford, Flood, Oatley, Phillips, Cook, Cruttenden, Carter-Knight, Weeks, McKie (c). Subs: Berry, Cooch, Fever-Norton.
The defeat leaves Cowes Sports 15th in the Wessex Premier with 32 points from 29 games. The Yachtsmen now travel to Christchurch on Tuesday (19:30 kick-off).
VICS BEATEN BY PORTLAND IN BATTLE OF THE ISLES
East Cowes Victoria were vanquished on the road in the Isle of Portland .
Vics were boosted by the return of captain Liam Newbold and Liam Triggs but found themselves under early pressure from the hosts.
Portland made a strong start and went close inside the opening 5 minutes when Patrick Jenkins chipped the ball over the advancing goalkeeper, only for a Vics defender to head the ball onto the crossbar.
Vics responded well and had a good opportunity of their own on 18 minutes, breaking through one-on-one, but were denied by an excellent save from Portland keeper Harry Foden.
Portland took the lead late in the first half when Greg Borthwick reacted quickest to slot home following a fumble from Alex Ram (1-0).
The hosts doubled their advantage in first-half stoppage time as Patrick Jenkins scored to give Portland firm control of the contest (2-0).
Portland added a 3rd goal late on when Josh Camp played a precise pass through to Remus Nixon, who finished confidently to complete the scoring in the 88th minute (3-0).
Full Time: Portland United 3-0 East Cowes Victoria
East Cowes Victoria: Bridi, Boyd-Kerr, Newbold (c), Triggs, Yates, Chapman, Wheeler, Wright, Hart, J Neale, C Neale. Subs: Cassford, J Kirby, Simkins, S Kirby.
Vics remain 13th in the Wessex Premier with 33 points from 29 games. They next face Petersfield Town on Tuesday evening (19:45 kick-off).
