Wessex League Newport lost in the Hampshire Senior Cup to professional National League side Aldershot – who are 5 steps above in the football pyramid – at Beatrice Avenue last night (Tuesday).
Port had expected to be playing a young Aldershot team. However, the Shots turned up with with a strong side that featured nine of the first team squad, plus 2 of their academy side: Billy Walsh and Harry Thorpe.
It took until the 11th minute for the North Hampshire side to open the scoring through Haydon Vaughan with a brilliant finish from outside the box, finding the top corner via the inside of the post (0-1).
In a physical battle between the 2 sides, Aldershot’s Rollin Menayese was forced to change shirts having drawn blood and Kai Corbett was forced off injured after 21 minutes.
Shots Captain Aaron Jones doubled his side’s lead in the 37th minute by racing into the Port penalty area down the right and finding the bottom corner with a smart finish (0-2).
Vaughan was unlucky not to have scored a 2nd for the Shots just before half-time as his long range effort appeared destined for the top corner but he was denied by a superb save from Port keeper Pitman.
It was only thanks to Pitman’s heroic efforts that the scores stayed at a respectable margin at half time.
Half time: Newport IW 0-2 Aldershot
The visitors added a 3rd just 2 minutes into the 2nd half, with Haydon Vaughan bagging his brace with a composed finish from around the penalty spot (0-3).
10 minutes later, Vaughan got his hat-trick by firing a low-effort past Pitman (0-4).
A minute or so after that, the Shots grabbed their 5th when Maxwell Mullins pounced on a parry from Pitman (0-5)
The Port continued to battle gamely with Macauley Watterson sending an effort over the crossbar in the 68th minute.
Mullins then scored scored his 2nd in the 72nd (0-6).
However, to the Island side’s credit, they did not let their heads drop and pulled a goal back in the 74th minute with substitute Henry West heading home a corner (1-6).
Aldershot’s Mark Holley put paid to an unlikely comeback from Port with a 7th and final goal moments before the full time whistle.
Full time: Newport IW 1-7 Aldershot
Newport IW: Pitman, Walsh (West, 57′), Butcher, Young (Oatley, 46′), Watterson, Holbrook, Nash, Craig (Grandvoinet, 78′), Browne (c), Younie (Myram, 57′), Grace (Kettell78’).
In the Isle of Wight Senior (Gold) Cup…
Brading Town 3-2 Shanklin
The Romans are through to the next round of the Gold Cup by overcoming Shanklin at Vicarage Lane thanks to strikes from Dan Vale, Lewis Parsons and Aaron Bennett. Shanklin’s goals came courtesy of Tom Ashley and Josh Field.
This evening (18th September) Oakfield face High Park in the Ryde & District Cup Final at Smallbrook. Kick off is at 19:30.
