Newport showed the gulf in class between the top and bottom of Division 1 by knocking 8 goals past Fleet Spurs on Saturday, 9th April.
2nd-from-bottom Fleet Spurs have had a difficult season and travelled to Smallbrook without their regular goalkeeper Aaron Bufton, who was replaced by 48-year-old co-manager Scott Kemp. Newport left Joe Craig and Jacob Reynolds – both on 9 yellow cards – on the substitutes bench.
The Port were 3 goals to the good in under 10 minutes, after suffering an early scare when Kai Francis knocked the ball past Joe McCormack’s post in the 3rd minute.
First, Joe Butcher opened the scoring in the 5th minute with a low 5-yard shot from the right of the goal (1-0). 2 minutes later, Liam Harper sent a further shot past Scott Kemp from an acute angle (2-0). In the 9th minute, it was game over for the North Hampshire side when the ball struck the hand of one of their players in the penalty area, and Connor Kelly converted the resulting spot kick (3-0).
On the half hour mark, there was an almighty scramble in the Spurs penalty area when Josh Younie, Jordan Browne, Connor Kelly, and Liam Harper all had shots cleared off the goal line. 3 minutes from the half time interval, Aaron Burford added to the Port’s tally with a far post header from a corner (4-0). Finally, a minute before half time, centre forward Jordan Browne got his name on the score sheet by sending a low shot past Kemp (5-0).
The half ended on a sour note with full back Neo Lamb being forced to leave the pitch injured to be replaced by Jacob Reynolds.
Half time: Newport IW 5-0 Fleet Spurs
It took until the 65th minute for the Port to add a further goal to their tally when Liam Harper converted a Connor Kelly cross (6-0). 2 minutes later, Liam Harper had a shot spilled by Kemp, and Kelly converted the rebound (7-0). Veteran Newport keeper Joe McCormack was called into action for the first time in the game in the 82nd minute, showing his agility to keep out a powerful Spurs shot. Finally, a minute before full time, Josh Younie volleyed a Joe Butcher cross into the top right corner of the Spurs goal (8-0) to complete an emphatic victory for the County Town club.
Full time: Newport IW 8-0 Fleet Spurs
Newport IW: McCormack, Hughes, Lamb (Reynolds), Burford, McDonough, Triggs, Kelly (Hancott), Harper, Browne, Younie, Butcher Subs: Craig, Streeter
After the match, Newport co-manager Stewart Shepherd said:
“The win keeps up the momentum and gives the lads confidence. Reaching the play offs was the target at the start of the season, and we’ve done that. Now, we want to finish 2nd or 3rd so we have home advantage in the semi-final.”
With just 1 game of the season left to play, Newport remain in 4th place in Division 1. A win in the final game of the season – against Whitchurch United at Smallbrook – would see the Port finish 3rd.
Video: Robert Lunn
In other Wessex League games …
East Cowes Vics 0-5 Bemerton Heath Harlequins
Bemerton have edged closer to taking the Division 1 title and securing promotion to the Wessex Premier by comfortably beating Vics at Beatrice Avenue.
Bemerton took the lead in the 1st minute through Danny Young. A brace from Ronan Clancy and a further goal from Justin Bennett saw the East Cowes side trailing 0-4 at half time.
In the 2nd half, Bemerton had 2 goals disallowed before Harry Beckley added a 5th goal for the Salisbury side 4 minutes before the final whistle.
East Cowes Vics: Ram, Woodford, Berry, West, Gregory, White, Chapman, Hayward, Cant, Snow, Yates Subs: Catania, Sheerin, Lyon, Marsek, Linington (gk)
After the game, Vics manager Richie Woodburn said:
“Bemerton proved their title credentials today. They came out the traps and were 3 up within 30 minutes with a display of uncompromising physicality, sharper technique, combined with great movement. Fair play to our lads though, who galvanised 2nd half and made the game more of a contest, but by then the game was already over.
“We now need to pick ourselves up, dust ourselves down, ready to go again Tuesday against similar quality opposition. Hopefully, today’s fixture has prepped us about the required levels needed to achieve a positive result.”
On Tuesday evening (12th April), Vics face Newport in the Gold Cup semi-final at Westwood Park.
Woodburn says:
“Newport are in great form and beat us twice comfortably already, so all the smart money will be on them. Hopefully, our lads have learnt from our previous 2 encounters, and Newport are slightly distracted with their main goal of promotion, and we can take advantage and make it a real contest.”
Alton 3-0 Cowes Sports
The Yachtsmen have extended their winless run to 9 games by losing 3-0 to Alton at Anstey Park in north Hampshire.
The Brewers took the lead in the 20th minute through George Bowerman (1-0). Cowes had an opportunity to equalize when Ben Tickner was brought down in the penalty area, but Ewan Cranwell failed to convert the spot kick. Luke Perkins then scored a 2nd goal for the home side a minute before the half time interval (2-0).
In the 2nd half, Perkins killed the game as a contest by adding a further goal to his tally in the 61st minute (3-0).
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Barsdwell, Dempsey, West, Adams, Cranwell, Tickner, J. Mumford, Conway, Phillips, Nash Subs: T. Mumford, Kilroy, McFarlane
