A 1-1 draw with Millbrook at Smallbrook was enough to see the Port top the Division 1 table for the 1st time this season on Saturday (18th February).
The Port began the 1st half brightly with George Colson having a shot stopped on the goal line. Joe Craig then got the ball in the back of the Dockers’ net but had his ‘goal’ ruled offside. Jordan Browne came close to heading the County Town club into the lead, but saw his effort hit the crossbar.
The Dockers also had their scoring opportunities. First, the Port had a lucky escape when the visitor’s No 6 hit the crossbar. Then, centre forward Mark Barker gave the visitors the lead by lobbing Port ‘keeper Pitman (0-1).
Newport were unlucky not to have been awarded a penalty before the half time break when a trip on Jordan Chapman in the visitors’ penalty area went unpunished by the referee.
Half Time: Newport (IoW) 1-1 Millbrook
The Port began the 2nd half on the front foot with Ryan Oatley having a shot blocked by the Millbrook keeper then seeing a further goal attempt blocked by a defender.
However, it appeared that the County Town club were destined for defeat until the final minute of the game, when a corner from the left was headed across the goal for Scott Barron to send a bullet header into the back of the Millbrook net.
Full time: Newport (IoW) 1-1 Millbrook
Newport (IoW): Pitman, Hughes, Triggs, Reynolds, Oatley, Barron, Colson, Boyd-Kerr, Browne, Craig, Chapman Subs: Kelly, McCormack, Nash, Streeter
Newport now top the table with 58 points from 25 games, 1 point ahead of 2nd-placed Petersfield Town and 3rd-placed New Milton Town.
Video: Robert Lunn:
VICS CLIMB UP TABLE IN SEVEN-GAME UNBEATEN RUN
In form East Cowes Vics beat North Hampshire side Whitchurch United to rise to 15th in the Division 1 table.
The 1st half was a tough midfield battle with neither side allowed any space. The 1st shot on goal came after 22 minutes: Vics’ Thomas Ashley found himself free in the area and hit a low drive which was well saved by the legs of Whitchurch keeper Joel Halliday.
Soon after, it was Vics keeper Alex Ram’s turn to showcase his skills, 1st saving well from Brett Denham, then repeating the feat 5 minutes later when Denham had a shot blocked by the keeper’s legs.
Whitchurch were on top at this point, but the tables soon turned. A long ball sent Vics’ Aidan Radford running towards the box with only Chris Morris and the keeper to beat. Morris slid in on the edge of the area, taking the ball but also the player. The referee awarded a free kick but also adjudged Morris to be the last man and sent him off.
Harrison Taylor’s resulting free kick went under the wall and lodged in the bottom right corner (0-1).
Half time: Whitchurch United 0-1 East Cowes Vics
The 2nd half began with the Jam Boys fired up. But with the visitors sitting deeper, Taylor had more time and space in midfield to showcase his passing skills. Taylor split the Whitchurch defence with a through ball to Liam Newbold but ‘keeper Halliday positioned himself well and blocked the shot.
Another quick break from Vics saw a chipped ball from Taylor find Voller, who tried a lob from distance, which Halliday collected easily. Taylor then sent a through ball to Sam Cant, who didn’t hit it 1st time, and the delay gave Robbie Henderson time to block his effort.
10-man Whitchurch continued to pile forward looking for the equaliser. However, Vics held out for all 3 points, despite being reduced to 10 men themselves with Sam Cant sin-binned for questioning a decision from the referee.
Full time: Whitchurch United 0-1 East Cowes Vics
East Cowes Vics: Ram, Snow, Greenslade, Berry, Chase, Taylor, Cant, Newbold, Radford, Ashley, Voller Subs: Marsek, Woodford, West, Turner, Parsons
After the game, Victorious Vics manager Alex Smith said:
“Yesterday was a disappointing performance from us. Fortunately, we again defended resolutely enough to earn another clean sheet and the three points.
“Whitchurch are a good, well coached side and the sending off was obviously the turning point. They caused us some problems with their movement and overloads but once we adjusted we rode it out well. We had a number of huge chances which we failed to convert and now have a number of players who are ‘due a goal’.”
YACHTSMEN SCUPPERED BY RUTHLESS DEANS
Cowes Sports were comprehensively beaten by 2nd-placed Horndean at Westwood Park.
The Yachtsmen knew they were in for a tough game having lost the corresponding fixture 8-0 at Five Heads Park.
After a slow start, the Deans took the lead on 25 minutes with a deflected shot from Zack Willett (0-1) A minute later, Willett quickly doubled his tally by converting a cross from Anderson (0-2). The Deans forward could have had his hattrick moments later when his half volley struck the post.
The Yachtsmen had a chance to pull one back just before the half time interval when captain John McKie took the ball round Deans’ keeper Scott but was unable to guide the ball into the net from a tight angle.
Half time: Cowes Sports 0-2 Horndean
The Deans extended their lead in the opening minute of the 2nd half when Connor Duffin netted from close range (0-3). Duffin then won the Deans a penalty, which Willett converted to bag his hattrick in the 50th minute (0-4). 4 minutes later, Tommy Tierney was denied by the woodwork.
Mark Taylor came close to scoring a consolation goal in the 78th minute but saw his shot palmed away by Deans’ keeper Cameron Scott. 4 minutes from full time, Deans’ substitute Rudi Blankson scored to seal a comprehensive 0-5 victory.
Full time: Cowes Sports 0-5 Horndean
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Mumford, Whittle, Conway, West, Catania, McFarlane, Hayward, McHKie, Taylor, Phillips Subs: C.Neale, Coode, Furmidge, Laird, Bundy
The Yachtsmen’s defeat sees them drop to 17th place in the Wessex Premier table. However, they remain 5 points ahead of 2nd-from-bottom Bournemouth, who lost 2-5 to AFC Portchester.
Wessex League tables below (Premier left, Division 1 right):
