Newport put their off-field woes behind them as striker Joe Butcher returned to form, scoring a hat-trick in an emphatic 6-1 ‘home’ victory against Verwood Town in Dorset.
The Port started brightly with early efforts from Joe Butcher and Joe Craig in the first 5 minutes. It was Verwood, however, who took the lead 7 minutes into the game: a shot from Mat Vining just outside the area bobbling around on the line and just unable to be kept out (0-1).
The Potters looked organised, and continued to push Port, hitting the crossbar shortly after their goal. In response, Spike Pearce, Joe Butcher and Connor Kelly all saw efforts going wide or stopped by Potters’ keeper Ed Philips.
The first big talking point of the first half then came on 31 minutes, when Newport captain Martin McDonough appealed for a foul after being punched in the face by Verwood No 8 Billy Cooper in an off-the-ball incident. Fortunately for the Port, the referee saw it, and showed a straight red to Cooper.
The second talking point of the 1st half was a spectacular save from returning Newport keeper, Gary Streeter. Then, just before the whistle blew for half-time, Joe Butcher snatched an equaliser for the Port.
HT: Newport IW1-1 Verwood Town
VIDEO – Thanks to Robert Lunn
Despite Newport having the extra man advantage, as the second half got under way Verwood attacked from the off. The Port’s first decent chance came after12 minutes when Joe Butcher just failed to connect cleanly with a Jordan Browne cross.
A minute later, Connor Kelly showed his strength on the left, crossing the ball under pressure, to be picked up by Josh Younie, who slotted home to put Newport ahead (2-1).
A fantastic effort by Jordan Browne on 62 minutes extended the Port’s lead, controlling the ball impeccably, turning and burying it right in front of goal (3-1). Jordan Browne deserved his 2nd goal a few minutes later before Butch went millimetres wide. However, it was Josh Younie who got the Port’s 4th and his 2nd on 67 minutes (4-1).
Joe Butcher got his second and Newport’s 5th with around 5 minutes of the game remaining, taking advantage of a defensive error, snatching the ball, and chipping cheekily over the keeper (5-1).
The Verwood keeper partly redeemed himself, saving from Butch moments later, before Newport man-of-the-match Butcher walked the ball into the net for a well-deserved hat-trick.
FT: Newport IW 6-1 Verwood Town
Newport: Streeter, Hughes, McDonough, Pearce, Triggs, Kelly, Hancott, Browne, Craig, Butcher Subs: Reynolds, Wright, Harper, McCormack
After the game, Verwood Town co-manager Danny Tabor said:
“A 6-1 defeat today doesn’t tell the full story. Verwood were excellent with 11 v 11. 1-0 up and had 3 great chances hitting the post and bar. Going down to 10 men after 30 mins killed us after a moment of madness. Newport are a good side and well deserved their win in the end.”
Newport’s win leaves them in 3rd place in Wessex League 1 with 53 points from 23 games, 4 points behind leaders Bemerton but with a game in hand.
Newport match report provided with kind assistance of Jenny Holmes
EAST COWES VICS 1-2 NEW MILTON TOWN
Vics remain winless in 2022 ahead of Tuesday’s big derby game at Beatrice Avenue against Newport.
The East Cowes side began the game on the back foot with a profligate New Milton attack missing a plethora of chances in the opening 20 minutes of the game. As the New Milton forwards appeared unable to put the ball into the Vics net despite ample opportunities to do so, it required a mistake by Ryan Gregory to put the away side into the lead when knocked the ball into his own net from 3 yards in the 26th minute (0-1).
However, a minute later, Vics were back on level terms when Jimmi Burton set up Sam Cant to send a low shot to the New Milton keeper’s right from the middle of the penalty area (1-1). Shortly before half time, Jimmi Burton had a strong appeal for a penalty turned down when a New Milton defender appeared to handle the ball to block his powerful shot.
HT: East Cowes Vics 1-1 New Milton Town
Vics were very unlucky not to take the lead in the 54th minute when Jimmi Burton – faced with an open goal – contrived to hit a shot against the left post that trickled along the goal line to the right post, before bouncing away from danger. However, the final word belonged to New Milton when Tyrell Sampson set up Noel McCarthy-Gardiner to score his debut goal for the club in the 75th minute.
FT: East Cowes Vics 1-2 New Milton Town
East Cowes Vics: Ram, Yates (West), Berry, White, Gregory, Hayward, Catania, Chapman, Burton, Cant (Snow), Lyon (Newbold)
After the game, East Cowes Vics manager Richie Woodburn said:
“It was a good performance, but we just didn’t get the rub of the green. If Jimmi had scored, the game could easily have gone the other way.”
Defeat leaves Vics in 17th place in Wessex League 1 with 18 points from 24 games, just 1 place above the drop zone.
BOURNEMOUTH POPPIES 6-1 COWES SPORTS
The Yachtsmen contrived to lose by a large margin despite opening the scoring. Centre forward Connor Furmidge put Cowes into the lead in the 32nd minute when he headed in a Ji Nash cross. However, Bournemouth equalized shortly before half time after a “dubious” penalty decision. An abject 2nd half defensive display from the Yachtsmen then saw the Island side leak 5 goals: in the 46th, 58th, 62nd, 70th and 84th minutes of the game, with the crossbar coming to the rescue of Cowes in the 67th minute.
Cowes Sports: Hatt, White, Sexton, Ricketts, Watson, Cranwell, Phillips, Mumford, Furmidge, McKie, Nash Subs: Atdan, Boyd-Kerr, Conway
Defeat leaves the Yachtsmen in 16th place in the Wessex Premier with 26 points from 25 games.
