Newport shared the spoils while Cowes Sports and East Cowes Victoria both suffered defeats across a demanding round of fixtures for Isle of Wight Wessex League sides on Tuesday (14th April).
PORT HELD BY CLANFIELD AS YOUTHFUL SIDE IMPRESSES
Newport shared the spoils in a 1-1 draw on Saturday, fielding a youthful side amid an ongoing injury crisis.
With several senior players unavailable, Port named a much-changed side, offering opportunities to younger squad members. Like the reverse fixture before Christmas, the conditions played their part, with heavy rain falling throughout much of the contest.
Both sides began evenly, Clanfield posing a threat down the right while Newport looked to play through the middle, with Ji Nash again a constant outlet. The visitors struck first after working the ball into the box from the flank, the move ending with a composed finish by Ndum into the far corner (0-1).
Newport responded well. After Kudzi Mazambara saw an effort saved, Nash reacted quickest to fire home the rebound and bring the sides level (1-1). The remainder of the half was open, with both teams creating chances, although Clanfield were perhaps fortunate to keep 11 men on the pitch after a last-man foul on Nash resulted only in a booking.
Half Time: Newport 1-1 Clanfield
The tempo dipped after the interval as fatigue set in among the youthful line-up, but Newport remained disciplined. Leon Pitman produced an excellent late save to deny the visitors before Port pushed strongly in the closing stages.
Nash saw an effort tipped onto the bar, while Mazambara missed a golden opportunity with the final kick, dragging wide from close range.
Full Time: Newport 1-1 Clanfield
Newport Pitman; Egerton-Read (Craig 56), Holbrook, Thompsett, Walsh (Giacomelli 79); Young (Arnold 56), Grace (Browne 53), Linington (77), Ballinger; Mazambara (72), Nash. Subs: Watterson, Craig, Giacomelli, Arnold, Browne. Man-of-the-Match: Linington
Newport remain 7th in Wessex Division 1 with 68 points from 39 games, with no remaining chance of reaching the play-offs.
YACHTSMEN GO TOE-TO-TOE WITH CHAMPIONS STONEHAM
Cowes Sports produced a spirited display but were beaten by champions AFC Stoneham on Saturday.
Facing a Stoneham side already crowned champions, the Yachtsmen showed no signs of being overawed and started brightly. Inside 3 minutes, McFarlane reacted first to a loose ball and fired narrowly wide, setting the tone for a competitive contest.
Stoneham responded with chances of their own, first missing from a dangerous cross before striking the post following a defensive lapse. The breakthrough came on 14 minutes when a long ball forward was knocked into the path of Callum Laycock, who finished confidently (1-0).
The hosts continued to build pressure and doubled their advantage on 32 minutes after a sustained spell in the Cowes half (2-0). Hatt was then called into action, producing an excellent close-range save to keep the deficit at 2 before the break.
Half Time: AFC Stoneham 2-0 Cowes Sports
Cowes continued to compete strongly in the second half. A fine pass from McFarlane released Marsek, but his effort drifted just wide, before Mumford drove forward from deep and forced a save.
The closest the Yachtsmen came arrived on 69 minutes when Lovett-Fenner struck a superb swerving effort from distance that crashed against the crossbar.
Despite the defeat, Cowes matched the champions for long periods and will take encouragement into Tuesday’s Wessex League Cup semi-final, where they will face AFC Stoneham once again.
Full Time: AFC Stoneham 2-0 Cowes Sports
Cowes Sports Hatt; Lovett-Fenner, Mumford T, Chase, Milton, Hjorts, Cruttenden, McFarlane, Goodwin, Marsek, Mumford J. Subs: Fever-Norton, Moore, Backshall
10-MAN VICS CAUGHT BY SECOND-HALF ONSLAUGHT
East Cowes Victoria led at the break but were reduced to 10 men and fell to defeat at Christchurch after conceding 4 second half goals.
With 5 games in 11 days stretching resources, the Vics named a depleted side, with Tom O’Neil and Jamie Barratt stepping up and physio Keiron Wye the only fit substitute.
Despite those challenges, they produced an excellent first-half display. Christchurch were forced into long balls and repeatedly caught offside, while the Vics created the better chances. On 24 minutes, Josh Neale struck the crossbar following a Harrison Yates cross, with the rebound flashing across goal.
Further chances followed, with Yates and Elliot Wheeler both going close, before the breakthrough came on 40 minutes when Sam Kirby crossed for Caleb Neale, who turned sharply and fired home (0-1).
However, the momentum shifted just before half time when Kirby was shown a straight red card.
Half Time: Christchurch 0-1 East Cowes Victoria
Christchurch equalised within 20 seconds of the restart (1-1) before taking the lead shortly after (2-1). With the extra man, the hosts took control, extending their advantage through Ollie Bird (3-1).
Bird added a fourth in the final minute to complete the turnaround (4-1), leaving the Vics to reflect on a game that had slipped away after a strong opening.
Full Time: Christchurch 4-1 East Cowes Victoria
East Cowes Victoria Bridi; Kirby, Yates, Snow, Wheeler, O’Neil, Wright, J Neale, C Neale, Barratt, Hart. Subs: Urry, Chapman, Wye, Newbold, Triggs
Vics remain 14th in the Wessex Premier with 37 points from 37 games, 6 points behind Cowes Sports.
