An early 8th minute goal was enough for Newport to see off promotion rivals New Milton Town in a scrappy game at Smallbrook.
Wessex League 1: Newport IoW 1-0 New Milton Town
Newport had key players absent for the visit of New Milton: veteran goalkeeper Gary Streeter, defender Aaron Burford, midfielder Joe Craig, and joint leading scorer Joe Butcher. The game was played in glorious sunshine on an uneven pitch that had been dug up by rabbits overnight.
The Port began on the front foot when electric-paced winger Connor Kelly received a through ball on the left side of the pitch, drove the ball forward and into the penalty area, before directing it past New Milton keeper Ollie Bull into the far corner of the goal (1-0).
Kelly came close to giving the Port a 2-goal advantage on the half hour mark when he outpaced 2 defenders on the left wing but sent his 2nd scoring opportunity inches past the far post.
Newport had further scoring opportunities: Scott Barron and Jordan Browne both sent headers from free kicks narrowly past the woodwork. New Milton Town put pressure on the Port towards the end of the half through a succession of corners, but a well-marshalled defence ensured the Islanders kept their 1-goal lead until the interval.
HT: Newport IoW 1-0 New Milton Town
While the Island side dominated most of the 1st half, New Milton Town controlled the 2nd without creating scoring opportunities. In the 72nd minute, artful forward Eli Ahmed was brought on as substitute to add further pace to the Port attack but was cautioned within seconds for a reckless tackle.
New Milton huffed and puffed but never appeared likely to blow the Newport house down. What had in truth been a dull game suddenly exploded into life in injury time due to some difficult and controversial refereeing decisions.
New Milton finally scored in the 93rd minute from a free kick just outside the Port penalty area. However, just as the mainlanders were celebrating their last gasp escape, referee Tony Foster spotted the raised flag of linesman Ali Taylor and controversially ruled the effort offside.
2 minutes later, Josh Younie hit the New Milton post for substitute Jared Wetherick to bang in the rebound. However, during Jared’s edge-of-the-pitch celebrations, referee Foster saw the raised flag of the 2nd linesman Jamie Saltzer.
There had been an off-the-ball altercation between Eli Ahmed and New Milton defender Callum Parnell, in which the New Milton No. 3 was said to have punched the Newport forward and Eli to have pushed the defender in response. After consulting the linesman, referee Foster gave Parnell a straight red and Eli a second yellow. Both sides then played out the final seconds of injury time with 10 men.
FT: Newport IoW 1-0 New Milton Town
Newport IoW: McCormack, Hughes, Triggs, Barron, McDonough, Sampson, Kelly, Reynolds, Browne, Lamb, Harper Subs: Ahmed, Younie, Wetherick, Pearce
After the match, Newport co-manager, Stewart Shepherd, said:
“We were the better team 1st half, but they put us under a lot of pressure in the 2nd.
“You have to beat the teams around you. We showed we can win without playing particularly well.
“I thought the sendings off were a bit harsh at that stage of the game. 2 yellows or a talking to would have sufficed.”
New Milton Town were aggrieved at the officiating and the state of the pitch.
Their chairman, Lou Fern, said:
“Poorest officiating I’ve ever seen, and I’ve seen some appalling performances in my time. I’m in shock.”
Newport’s win leaves them 1st place in Wessex League 1 with 21 points from 8 games. The Port next face Wessex Premier side Horndean on Tuesday at Five Heads Park in the 1st round of the Wessex League Cup.
In the other game featuring an Island side in Wessex League 1, East Cowes Vics lost 4-1 in Wiltshire against 2nd-placed Bemerton Heath Harlequins. Vics next face Alton in the Wessex League Cup at Beatrice Avenue on Tuesday night.
Inconsistent Cowes Sports have been knocked out of the FA Vase in the 1st round by Bournemouth Poppies in an entertaining and controversial game at Westwood Park. Only a fortnight ago, Cowes had beaten the same team 5-1.
The Yachsmen were missing key players for the tie against Bournemouth, including captain Fin Finley and leading scorer John McKie. Cowes opened the scoring when Connor Furmidge tapped in a Conor White cross (1-0). Bournemouth controversially equalized after the ball had been knocked out of keeper Ed Hatt’s hands (1-1). The Yachtsmen then conceded a 2nd goal (1-2) before being awarded a penalty, which Furmidge blasted over the crossbar. HT: 1-2
Bournemouth added to their lead in the 56th minute (1-3) before Morgan Perrin reduced the deficit with his 1st goal for the club (2-3). Captain Callum Chase then conceded a penalty for Cowes, which the visitors converted (2-4). Callum made amends by heading in a Lewis Wright free kick 5 minutes from time (3-4). FT: 3-4
Bournemouth’s win means it is they rather than the Yachtsmen who will have a home tie against East Cowes Vics on September 25th in the 2nd round of the competition. Cowes Sports next face AFC Bournemouth (the professional Championship side) in the 2nd round of the Hampshire Senior Cup at Westwood Park on September 21st.
Results for Saturday, September 11th:
Wessex League 1: Bemerton Heath Harlequins 4-1 East Cowes Vics; Newport 1-0 New Milton Town
FA Vase 1st Round: Cowes Sports 3-4 Bournemouth
Fixtures for Tuesday, September 14th:
Wessex League Cup 1st round: Horndean v Newport IoW (19.15); East Cowes Vics v Alton (19.45)
