All 3 of the Isle of Wight’s Wessex League clubs were sadly beaten this afternoon (Saturday 16th September).
Newport (IoW) 0-3 Hamworthy Recreation
Newport pitted themselves against early title favourites Hamworthy Rec and came up predictably short but acquitted themselves well.
The Port found themselves a goal down at the break through an early unmarked back post header from a corner in the 7th minute scored by Lewis McMurdo.
The County Town club just couldn’t get a foothold in the game and were missing the hold up play of Jordan Browne. However, Josh Younie worked industriously and yet again captain McDonough was a rock at the back.
Half time: Newport (IoW) 0-1 Hamworthy Recreation
The 2nd half was more even. However, Frank Rosenwald added a 2nd for the away side in the 50th minute by lobbing Leon Pitman (0-2).
Jordan Browne came on as a substitute in the 67th minute and immediately troubled the visiting defence. Soon after entering the field of play, Browne flashed a header just over the crossbar as Port enjoyed a sustained period of pressure.
Joe Butcher then hammered the cross bar. However, the home side still relied on ‘keeper Leon Pitman to make a string of fine saves to stop Hamworthy extending their lead further.
Hamworthy managed a late 3rd goal when a shot from edge of the box from Tyler Rudd nestled in the corner of the net (0-3).
The result was probably a fair reflection of the game, but Port will be able to take some positives into next week and the visit of Fawley.
Full time: Newport (IoW) 0-3 Hamworthy Recreation
Newport (IoW): Pitman, Walsh, Oatley, Watterson, McDonough, West, Butcher, Wright, Melton, Younie, Bristow Subs: Myram (not used), Browne, Streeter
After the game, Newport manager Steve Brougham said:
“We are in a far better position than we were at the start of the season when we only had 5 players signed on and 3 turning up for training.
“We are hopeful about picking up a couple more players.
“We did very well today considering we only have a small squad. Sonny Myram was sick, Spike Pearce was suspended, and Jordan Browne couldn’t make the 1st half.”
Brougham was still hopeful about the club’s new ground being built, saying:
“Why would the developers spend all that money (believed to be a 6 figure sum) to keep the club going if they didn’t intend to build the new ground?
“However, they won’t build until they are ready.
“Newport are the Isle of Wight club with history. Whenever we go off the Island, they are the club that people ask about. We cannot allow it to fold.”
Newport’s defeat leaves the club in 11th place in Wessex Division 1, with 10 points from 7 games.
Report written with kind assistance of John Davies
Portland United 5-1 Cowes Sports
In the Wessex Premier, the Yachtsmen were comprehensively beaten by Dorset side Portland United.
This was the Dorset side’s 1st win in 6 attempts.
The kick off was delayed by 15 minutes as Cowes’ coach was caught up in protests surrounding the migrant accommodation barge Bibi Stockholm, currently docked in Portland Harbour.
Cowes had some good chances early in the 1st half. The Portland keeper had to make a save from captain McKie and another from a Jez Conway free kick.
However, Portland took the lead shortly before the half hour mark when Greg Borthwick lobbed the Cowes keeper (1-0).
The home side added a 2nd 7 minutes later after an unmarked Brin Doyle slotted the ball into the Cowes net (2-0).
Borthwick then bagged his brace on the stroke of half time by heading past Hatt (3-0).
Half time: Portland United 3-0 Cowes Sports
10 minutes before full time, Fin Phillips pulled a goal back for the Yachtsmen by slotting the ball into the bottom corner of the net (3-1).
Any thoughts of an unlikely comeback for Cowes were put to rest when Archie Woodford dispatched a curling ball past Hatt 2 minutes from the end of full time play (4-1).
Matt Harvey then made an unhappy home journey even more miserable for the Island side by adding a 5th for Portland in the 6th minute of injury time (5-1).
Full time: Portland United 5-1 Cowes Sports
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Mumford, West, Barron, Oatley, Triggs, Phillips, Colson, Conway, Carter-Knight, McKie(c) Subs: Cook, Neale, MacFarlane, Hancott, Ahmed
The Yachtsmen’s defeat leaves them 7th in the Wessex League Premier Division with 10 points from 7 games.
Ash United 2-1 East Cowes Vics
Indiscipline has cost Vics yet again with defeat to Ash United in North Hampshire after goalkeeper Alex Ram was sent off for the East Cowes side.
The home team took an early lead through Jacob Chadd (1-0). However, the Beatrice Avenue boys appeared in the stronger position at the end of the 1st half when Ji Nash equalised (1-1), and a red card had reduced the home side to 10 men.
Vics sadly squandered their chance to take something from the game when keeper Alex Ram conceded a penalty and was given his marching orders. Defender Liam Newbold was given the responsibility of substitute keeper and dived the right way in the resulting spot kick but was unable to hold Elliott Cannon’s powerful strike (2-1)
Full time: Ash United 2-1 East Cowes Vics
East Cowes Vics: Ram, Snow, Yates, Berry, Chase, Mumford, Reynolds, Chapman, Neale, Coode, Nash Subs: Hart, Voller, Newbold, Boyd-Kerr, Catania
Vics’ defeat leaves them 9th in Wessex Division 1 with 13 points from 7 games.
In happier news for East Cowes Vics, their development side beat Liss Athletc 4-0, courtesy of a Jake McNaney brace and further strikes from Cory Sanderson and Sam Kirby.
Go on Liam! Best place for you is in goal,
Maybe it’s time to get all concerned round a table to discuss discipline.It is not the results that are being talked about but who got sent off this week.Sponsors could be looking at these weekly misdemeanors and might have second thoughts about putting their company names to these clubs!
One of these club has had 3 sending offs in 7 games. Another won the award for August for the BEST disciplinary record in the division. So when you say “these clubs” do you know what you are talking about?
Every side is going to pick up a sending off or bookings here and there, it’s a physical game, but some managers clearly foster a different attitude to others and that is showing this season.
You are right that sponsors should look at which teams are good role models, and yes one Island Wessex league side has made a really bad start in the last six weeks, but you are being unfair on the two sides whose disciplinary records are better.
One sending off could be a referee’s mistake. 3 with one team shows something different.