County Town club Newport are still searching for their 1st pre-season victory after losing 0-1 to Southern Combination Premier Eastbourne United at Smallbrook on Saturday (23rd July).
The Port were playing without regular centre forward Jordan Browne, who had been injured the previous week against Portchester and appeared to lack firepower up front. Liam Harper was given the No 9 shirt. Eastbourne United fielded 4 academy players in their side.
In a game between evenly matched teams with few clear chances, the only action of note in the 1st half came from Josh Younie, who sent a volley crashing off the Eastbourne United crossbar 5 minutes before the interval.
Half time: Newport IW 0-0 Eastbourne United
In the 2nd half, both sides continued to struggle in vain to break the deadlock. The Port put on experienced forwards Joe Butcher and Jared Wetherick midway through the half, but neither could find their scoring boots.
5 minutes from the final whistle, the sparse crowd finally saw a goal – but it came at the wrong end of the pitch when the impressive Brett Patten sent a 20-yard thunderbolt past Port keeper Liam Pitman.
Full time: Newport IW 0-1 Eastbourne United
Newport IW: Pitman, Barron, Triggs, Hancott, Sampson, Pearce, Younie, Reynolds, Harper, Kelly, Hughes
Newport next face Whitecroft & Barton Sports at Smallbrook on Tuesday evening. Kick-off is at 19:30.
Their full season starts on 2nd August when they travel to North Hampshire to face Ash United in their 1st Wessex Division 1 fixture.
Off the pitch, it appears Port are making progress with their new ground at the Racecourse. Archaeological digs have been completed, and the site is ready for building.
The latest forecast is that work on the new ground will start in September and be completed in March. Supporters are invited to a presentation at Southern Vectis Social Club on 11th August at 19:30, where plans for Wightfibre Park will be unveiled.
Video highlights: Robert Lunn
Cowes Sports 4-3 Seaford Town
The Yachtsmen beat Southern Combination Seaford Town by the best of 7 goals in an entertaining pre-season friendly at Westwood Park.
Fin Phillips opened the scoring for Cowes after just 2 minutes (1-0), with John McKie adding a 2nd for the home side in the 24th (2-0). Seaford then pulled 2 goals back (2-2), before Ollie West put Cowes into the lead again with a bullet header (3-2). Substitute Jez Conway restored the Yachtsmen’s 2-goal cushion with a further header (4-2). Seaford did not give up the fight, scoring a consolation goal with a superb volley (4-3).
Cowes Sports: Hatt, White, Perrin, West, McFarlane, Catania, Hayward, Dempsey, Phillips, McKie, Ahmed Subs: Nash, Coode, Conway, Wykes
Cowes play their 1st competitive game in the Wessex Premier away to Portchester on Tuesday, 2nd August.
East Cowes Vics 4-0 East Preston
The performance of the day for an Isle of Wight side against North Island opposition came from East Cowes Vics, who beat Southern Combination East Preston 4-0 at in a pre-season friendly at Beatrice Avenue.
Vics went into half time with a 1-goal advantage through Toby Snow (1-0). In the 2nd half, Sam Cant doubled the East Cowes side’s lead (2-0) before 16-year-old Brandon Tuckey added a 3rd for the home side (3-0). Finally, some trickery from Ant Kettell forced the Southern Combination outfit into conceding an own goal (4-0).
East Cowes Vics: Ram, Newbold, Woodford, Berry, White, Chapman, Lyons, Yates, Snow, Marsek, Cant Subs: Tuckey, Kettell, Sheerin, Day, Ash
After the game, Vics manager Richie Woodburn said:
“I don’t read too much into pre-season friendlies. However, the signs are good. We have far more energy and discipline than we have had in previous seasons. We have a settled side that keeps improving.”
This Tuesday (26th July) Vics take on Island champions Shanklin at Beatrice Avenue. Kick-off is at 19:30.
Vics’ 1st competitive game in Wessex League 1 is against Amesbury Town at Beatrice Avenue on 6th August.
