Ji Nash and Sam Kirby both bagged braces in Newport’s emphatic victory against 4th-placed Hamworthy United.
Nash opened the scoring for Port just before the half hour mark by converting a Joe Butcher cross (1-0).
Sam Kirby then doubled Newport’s lead from the edge of the 6-yard box after being set up by Nash (2-0).
Kirby scored his 2nd on the stroke of half time by rounding the keeper and slotting the ball in the back of the net (3-0).
Half time: Newport IW 3-0 Hamworthy United
Ji Nash grabbed his 2nd 7 minutes into the 2nd half by knocking in a rebound after the Hammers’ keeper could only parry a Martin McDonough flick (4-0).
The Hammers scored a consolation goal in the final minute of full time play (4-1).
Full time: Newport IW 4-1 Hamworthy United
Newport IW: Pitman, Holbrook, Thompsett, Young, Watterson (c), McDonough, Butcher, Walsh, Nash, Kirby, Grace Subs: Barsdell, Conway, Arnold, Linington, Craig Man-of-the-match: Sam Kirby
Port remain 8th in Wessex Division 1, 6 points behind Fleetlands in the 4th playoff spot.
YACHTSMEN BECALMED BY THE ROBINS
Cowes Sports were held to a goalless draw by 3rd-from-bottom Downton.
The Yachtsmen began the game on the front foot, with captain John McKie having a shot parried in the 5th minute. McKie continued to threaten, sending an unmet cross across the face of the goal in the 14th, then setting up Charlie Marsek, who failed to connect cleanly when presented with a scoring opportunity in the 20th.
McKie had a further shot blocked in the 26th minute after which he had a volley saved by the Downton keeper. The half ended in controversy with a handball inside the Downton penalty area not given.
Half time: Cowes Sports 0-0 Downton
The Robins provided more of a threat in the 2nd half, forcing Hughes to clear off the goal line in the 50th and Callum Chase clearing the ball to the Downton No 10, who dispatched the ball over the crossbar on the hour mark.
Chances for the Yachtsmen followed, with Jordan Cook mishitting an effort for a throw in and McKie shooting at the Downton keeper then heading over the crossbar. 2 further scoring opportunities came in the 83rd, with a Jake Wright free kick deflected wide by a defender and Jordan Browne volleying the resulting corner wide.
With neither side taking their chances, the game ended goalless.
Full time: Cowes Sports 0-0 Downton
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Hughes, Dempsey, Chase, Oatley, Wright, McKie (c), Cook, Browne, Phillips, Marsek Subs: McFarlane, Tout-Walters, Salter, Wolstenholme, Wightwick Man-of-the-match: Jordan Browne
The draw sees Cowes drop to 11th place in the Wessex Premier – 1 of 3 teams on 45 points together with Sherborne Town and Bournemouth. An inferior goal difference puts the Yachtsmen behind their midtable rivals.
JAM BOYS HOLD VICS TO GOALLESS DRAW
East Cowes Victoria travelled to Whitchurch United hoping for 3 points to consolidate their play off position, having drawn their last 3 games.
Manager Alex Smith again had selection headaches, with Liam Triggs, Jordan Chapman, Jacob Reynolds, Zak Sullivan and Gareth Bricknell all unfit.
Whitchurch started the game on the front foot, with a Charlie Barlow effort saved by Alex Ram in the 5th minute. Prolific scorer Justin Bennett then had an opportunity for the home side but couldn’t beat Ram. On 10 minutes, a free kick was met by the Jam Boys’ Sam Argent, but his header went just wide.
For East Cowes Vics, Scott Jones sent a shot past the upright on 11 minutes, a half chance for Raff Boyd- Kerr was off target on 13 minutes, and Caleb Neale had a goal attempt land on the roof of the net in the 42nd, Scott Jones sent a header over in the 44th and was also unlucky with a further first half injury time effort.
Vics’ final scoring opportunity fell to Charlie Hart right on the half time whistle, but although the youngster controlled the ball with sublime skill, he just missed the target.
Half time: Whitchurch United 0-0 East Cowes Victoria
The 2nd half was well contested in the middle of the park, not allowing space for anyone, The first chance fell for Whitchurch’s Justin Bennett, who reacted first to a poor Ram clearance, but the Vics keeper saved the attempted lob.
Robbie Owen sent a header inches wide for the home side on 58 minutes. For Vics, Josh Neale saw a snapshot go past the upright on 75 minutes. Justin Bennett also had a header that appeared goalbound headed clear by Liam Newbold.
On 85 minutes, Vics keeper Alex Ram – rushing out to stop Barlow who was in on goal – made a great challenge to take the ball from the striker with his feet; the striker went over, and the referee pointed to the spot. Sam Argent stepped up for Whitchurch and put his penalty wide.
Vics almost grabbed all 3 points at the death, with a Scott Jones header from a Toby Snow cross just wide of the target.
Full time: Whitchurch United 0-0 East Cowes Victoria
East Cowes Victoria: Ram, Snow, Yates, Newbold (c), Wheeler, Boyd-Kerr, Hart, Coode, Jones, J. Neale, C. Neale Subs: Perrin, Voller, Mazambara, Snaith, Turner Man-of-the-match: Charlie Hart
East Cowes Victoria remain 4th in Wessex Division 1, 9 points ahead of Ringwood Town, their closest challengers for a playoff place.
