Newport reached 9th place in Wessex Division 1 with a win in Wiltshire while our 2 Wessex Premier sides both lost by a 4-goal margin.
AMESBURY TOWN 0-2 NEWPORT IW
Newport extended their unbeaten league run to six games with a superb all-round performance in atrocious conditions at Amesbury on Saturday afternoon.
With a howling gale and relentless sideways rain making quality football almost impossible, the Islanders dug deep to record one of their most impressive results of the season. Despite a threadbare squad – just two substitutes and two under-18s starting in defence – the 12 players in red produced a display full of grit, organisation and togetherness.
Playing up the slope and defending the worst part of the pitch in the first half, Newport showed remarkable maturity. Centre-halves Jack Egerton-Read and Jez Conway were immense at the back, while the returning Joe Hancott provided a calm, combative shield in midfield. Keelan Walsh worked tirelessly in the centre of the park, preventing Amesbury from settling into any rhythm.
Chances were few and far between, though Newport looked the more likely side to find a breakthrough. Ji Nash had the ball in the net midway through the first half, only to be denied by a contentious offside flag that surprised even the home supporters.
Half-time: Amesbury Town 0 – 0 Newport IW
After the break, the pattern remained the same: Amesbury launched long balls forward, but Newport’s defence stood firm. Goalkeeper Leon Pitman – carrying a nasty gash from a first-half challenge – commanded his area superbly, his handling faultless in the swirling wind.
The deadlock was finally broken just after the hour when Joe Butcher’s teasing free-kick was met by Sonny Myram, who stooped to head home from close range. Moments later, Nash doubled the lead, springing the offside trap before coolly lobbing the static home keeper.
The travelling fans – some from as far as Surbiton, Reading and Portsmouth – were in full voice at the final whistle, celebrating a memorable 2-0 victory and another vital three points for the in-form Port.
Full time: Amesbury Town 0-2 Newport IW
Newport IW: Pitman, Grace, Benford, Hancott, Conway, Egerton-Read, Nash, Walsh, Butcher, Myram, Weeks Subs: Linington, Streeter
Port’s win leaves them 9th with 16 points from 9 games, 4 points behind Fleetlands in the 4th playoff place but with 2 games in hand.
On Tuesday evening, Newport travel across the Solent to take on United Services Portsmouth with kick off at 19:45.
COWES SPORTS 0-4 HAMBLE
Cowes Sports fell to a heavy 0–4 home defeat against a clinical Hamble Club side, who took full advantage of their chances and the Yachtsmen’s defensive frailties.
The hosts came into the match missing several key players – winger Jared Tout-Walters, striker Jordan Browne, midfielder George Colson, and full-back Ryan Hughes – absences that clearly affected their rhythm and attacking options.
Hamble took the lead in the 26th minute when a diagonal ball from a centre-back found his defensive partner who had stayed high upfield. As he attempted to bring the ball under control inside the box, a tangle with Chase was judged a foul, and the referee pointed to the spot. Douglas converted calmly to make it 0–1.
The Monks doubled their advantage in the 37th minute. A right-sided corner was only half-cleared to the Hamble right-back, whose driven delivery was headed goalward by a centre-back. Hatt made the initial save, but the rebound fell kindly to Douglas again, who tapped home for his second (0-2).
Half-time: Cowes Sports 0–2 Hamble Club
Just four minutes into the second half, Hamble struck again. From a throw-in on the left, the midfielder brought the ball under control, cut inside and slipped a perfectly timed pass between Oatley and Flood for Charlie Wagstaff, who rifled his shot into the roof of the net to make it 0–3.
Two minutes later, it was four. The Monks won the ball in midfield, worked it to the left winger, who drifted inside before curling a precise low effort into the bottom right corner – Sol Mazi the scorer (0-4).
The Yachtsmen did show brief attacking promise after trailing by four goals. On 54 minutes, a quick passing move led to Carter-Knight firing across goal, forcing a save and a corner. In the 77th minute, McKie fed Stan Backshall on the right, whose cross found Sanderson; he turned well but his shot was gathered by the Hamble keeper.
That was as close as Cowes came on a difficult afternoon where Hamble’s strength and composure told.
Full Time: Cowes Sports 0–4 Hamble Club
Cowes Sports: Hatt, S. Backshall, Flood, Chase, Oatley, Haward, Cruttenden, Phillips, McKie (c), Cook, Carter-Knight Subs: Berry, Sanderson, Long, Lovett-Fenner, B. Backshall
The result leaves Cowes Sports 14th in the Wessex Premier with 9 points from 7 games.
AFC STONEHAM 4-0 EAST COWES VICTORIA
Vics were left chasing shadows from the very start in a tough Wessex Premier clash, with Stoneham asserting themselves early and often.
Just seven minutes in, a superb delivery from Tom Annetts found Lewis Nagle arriving late at the near post, and his crisp volley put the hosts ahead (1-0).
Vics tried to get a foothold in the game, but chances were few and far between, and the first half ended with the visitors trailing.
Half time: AFC Stoneham 1-0 East Cowes Victoria
The second half brought more of the same. Martins’ clever pass released Nagle down the left, and he smashed a stunning shot into the top corner (2-0). In the 83rd minute, Jacob Reynolds was sin-binned, leaving Vics down to ten men. Stoneham made them pay almost immediately, with Duarte Martins converting a parried effort from Alex Welch (3-0).
Any hopes of a late rally were dashed in stoppage time as Jamie Johnston’s skilful run down the right created the perfect opportunity for Nagle to complete his hat-trick (4-0).
Full-time: AFC Stoneham 4-0 East Cowes Victoria
East Cowes Victoria: Ram, Snow, Holbrook, Reynolds, Jamie Wright, Chapman, Hart, Jake Wright, C Neale, J Neale (c), Kelly. Subs: Coode, Furmidge, Wragg, Wye, Kudzi
Defeat leaves East Cowes Victoria 17th in Wessex Division 1, with seven points from seven games.
