Newport comfortably beat their closest rivals Andover New Street 4-0 at Smallbrook this afternoon (Saturday) to go 3 points clear at the top of the table.
The Port began the game without in-form striker Joe Craig (suspended) but were bolstered by the welcome return of Josh Younie.
Andover New Street travelled to the Island without prolific striker Ross Cook.
The 1st half hour of the game saw few chances with neither side dominant.
The 1st good chance fell to New Street No 9 Harry Beckley, who was gifted the ball by Port keeper Pitman in the 32nd minute but failed to take advantage of the scoring opportunity. Pitman then pulled off 2 good saves to prevent the visitors taking the lead.
The Port’s 1st scoring opportunity fell to Connor Kelly in the 36th minute but he was dispossessed in the penalty area by a Street defender.
Newport took the lead a minute later through a Ryan Hughes strike to the bottom left of the goal (1-0).
Liam Triggs added a 2nd in the 39th by converting a Josh Younie corner (2-0).
Joe Hancott put the County Town club 3 ahead a minute before half time with a rocket from just inside the penalty area (3-0).
Half time: Newport (IoW) 3-0 Andover New Street
The Port scored a further goal 2 minutes after the halftime break when a Connor Kelly strike hit the underside of the crossbar before bouncing over the line (4-0).
The County Town club dominated the 2nd half without scoring further. The game became increasingly physical with strong challenges from both sides.
The North Hampshire side showed their frustration with frequent vociferous complaints to the referee, forcing the highly rated official in charge – J. Collier – to have stern words with the Andover New Street bench. The game ended in farce with the visitors reduced to 9 men after both full backs – Liam Hibberd and Eddie Perrett – were sinbinned for dissent.
Andover New Street management then had a heated exchange with a Wessex League official after the final whistle had blown.
Full time: Newport (IoW) 3-0 Andover New Street
Newport (IoW): Pitman, Hughes, Hancott, Reynolds (Nash ’81), Oatley, Barron, Kelly (Chapman ’71). Boyd-Kerr, Browne, Triggs (Lamb ’77), Younie (Smith ’85)
After the game, satisfied Newport manager Steve Brougham said:
“The result says it all. We deserved to win today.
“But we still have a long way to go – 11 cup finals to win the league.
“It’s frustrating to be a club without a ground. The lads have kept the club going. They have been playing unbelievably despite not having a home.”
The Port’s victory puts them in top spot in Wessex Division 1, 3 points ahead of Petersfield Town, with a game in hand over the 2nd-placed club.
Video: Robert Lunn
YACHTSMEN WIN 2 ON THE BOUNCE
The Yachtsmen beat Laverstock & Ford at the Dell in their 2nd successive Wessex Premier victory.
John McKie – who sealed the Yachtsmen’s win against Blackfield & Langley midweek with a brace of goals – forgot to pack his scoring boots for the visit to Wiltshire.
First – in the 12th minute – Captain John had a shot cleared off the line. Then, Cowes were awarded a penalty for handball, which McKie dispatched over the crossbar after slipping on the run up. Finally, the luckless No 9 saw a 22nd minute strike cannon off the crossbar.
The Island side finally took the lead on the half hour mark when Finn Phillips blasted a Scott McFarlane cross into the back of the home side’s net (0-1).
However, the Yachtsmen had keeper Ed Hatt to thank for preserving their 2-goal advantage to halftime, by preventing 2 certain goals with quick reflex reactions.
Returning striker Connor Furmidge ensured Cowes returned across the Solent with all 3 points with a tap in 2nd half goal set up by Caleb Neale.
Full time: Laverstock & Ford 0-2 Cowes Sports
Cowes Sports: Hatt, White, Dempsey, Conway, West, McFarlane, Whittle, Hayward (C.Neale), McKie (Ahmed), Coode (Furmidge), Phillips
The Yachtsmen’s win leaves them 14th in the Wessex Premier, 8 points ahead of Bournemouth Poppies in the 2nd relegation spot.
VICS GO DOWN TO DOWNTON
East Cowes Vics have now lost 2 successive games after a 7-game unbeaten run.
Vics were beaten with a goal in each half. Ollie Davies scored the opening goal for the visitors in the 26th minute (0-1). Krzysztof Krzysztofowicz then added a 2nd for the Wiltshire side with a 70th minute penalty (0-2).
Full time: East Cowes Vics 0-2 Downton
East Cowes Vics: Ram, Snow, Greenslade, West, Chase, Newbold, Cant, Lyon, Radford, Ashley, Marsek Subs: Taylor, Berry, Voller, H. Yates, Turner
Defeat to Downton leaves Vics 16th in Wessex Division 1, just 2 points above Ash United in the 3rd relegation spot but with 2 games in hand.
Wessex League tables below:
