Newport IW brushed aside Bembridge & Vectis last night (Tuesday) at the Zilch Waste Stadium to reach the Isle of Wight Gold Cup semi-final.
Bembridge arrived full of confidence, sitting 3rd in Isle of Wight Division 1 and boasting recent standout results, including an eight-goal haul against Ventnor, a draw with champions Whitecroft & Barton and a Gold Cup victory over second-placed West Wight. With Newport coming into the quarter final after a 38-day break, an upset seemed possible, but in front of a crowd of 146, the Wessex side made sure there were no surprises.
Port opened the scoring in the 9th minute when Joe Craig struck from the middle of the penalty area (1-0). Five minutes later Ji Nash doubled the advantage with a low drive from outside the box (2-0), before the contest began to tilt heavily in Newport’s favour.
Jez Conway made it 3-0 in the 18th minute, tapping in against his Island League club (3-0), and the pressure continued to mount. Harri Catania added a fourth in the 24th minute from inside the six-yard box (4-0), before Conway struck again with a powerful effort from the edge of the area (5-0).
Ji Nash grabbed his second of the evening from the centre of the penalty area (6-0), and Joe Craig rounded off a blistering half with a curling strike that left Bembridge reeling (7-0).
Half time: Newport IW 7-0 Bembridge & Vectis
Bembridge changed goalkeepers at the break, with Carl Ballington replacing the unfortunate Hawkins, while Newport introduced Benford and Mazambara in place of Thompsett and Craig.
The second half was more measured, but Newport still added to the scoreline. In the 56th minute, player-manager Joe Butcher calmly knocked the ball past Ballington from the middle of the penalty area to make it eight (8-0).
Butcher was unlucky not to add further goals, seeing one corner strike the far post and a free kick later cannon back off the woodwork. Bembridge struggled to threaten, although Sam Kirby remained a willing outlet whenever space appeared.
Full time: Newport IW 8-0 Bembridge & Vectis
Newport IW: Pitman, Thompsett, Lamb, Hancott, Watterson, Conway, Grace, Butcher, Catania, Craig, Nash Subs: Benford, Mazambara, Linington, Weeks, Walsh Man-of-the-match: Ji Nash
Bembridge & Vectis: Hawkins, Shaw, Hutchinson, Rayner, Symes, Barratt, Kirby, Brown, Malin, Smith Subs: Newsham, Sibly, Houghton, Ballington (gk)
Newport now turn their focus back to league action with Folland Sports due at the Zilch Waste Stadium in Wessex Division 1 on Saturday, weather permitting. Bembridge & Vectis, meanwhile, have completed their fixtures for the year and will return to action in January.
