Newport IW FC advanced to 3rd place in Wessex League 1 by beating Petersfield Town at Smallbrook Stadium on Saturday thanks to a Josh Younie free kick in the final minute.
The Port began the game with 2 vital players missing from the defence – Aaron Burford and captain Martin McDonough – but were bolstered by the return of Joe Hancock.
The 1st half was a dull affair on a heavy pitch with Petersfield dominating possession. Connor Kelly was uncharacteristically kept quiet by being closely marked by the Rams’ left back, Charlie Merritt.
It took until the 28th minute for Connor Kelly to finally break free of his marker and drive the ball down the right side of the pitch but was unable to get the ball past Petersfield keeper Tim Jackson from a tight angle. 4 minutes later, Connor again broke free but again had his shot parried. Jordan Browne then had a free header in the Petersfield penalty area but directed the ball at the keeper.
The final few minutes of the half belonged to Petersfield with Ben Neal shooting just past the right post and Ryan Kennedy heading just over the crossbar. In the final minute of the half, Joe McCormack appeared to handle a back pass which would have led to an indirect free kick deep inside the Port penalty area, but the referee opted to blow the half-time whistle.
HT: Newport IoW 0-0 Petersfield Town
The second half continued in the same manner as the first with the Port unable to break down the stubborn Rams. On the hour mark, the Port management introduced the fresh legs of Joe Craig and Joe Butcher to replace Jacob Reynolds and Liam Harper, but the Island side were still unable to make significant headway. In the 68th minute, Jordan Browne finally got the ball in the Petersfield net, but had his effort controversially ruled offside. Shortly after, one of the Petersfield management team, who appeared to vociferously contest every single refereeing decision, was yellow carded for protesting too loud and too long.
With 10 minutes remaining, the Newport management played their final card, bringing on Joe Rayner for Jake Wright. With four minutes left on the clock, Josh Younie hoofed the ball over the crossbar from close range after being set up by a low Connor Kelly through ball. Finally, in the 89th minute, Joe Craig was impeded on the edge of the Petersfield penalty area. Dead ball specialist Josh Younie stepped up to take the free kick, which he directed over the wall and into the top left corner of the goal to finally break the stalemate to the delight of most of the 130 spectators present.
FT: Newport IoW 1-0 Petersfield Town
Newport: McCormack, Hughes, Younie, Hancott, Pearce, Triggs, Kelly, Reynolds (Craig), Browne, Wright (Rayner), Harper (Butcher)
After the game, Newport co-manager Steve Brougham said:
“We’ll take the 1-0 win. We’ll take every point any way it comes. You are never guaranteed a win.”
Newport’s win leaves then in 3rd place in Wessex League 1 with 47 points from 21 games, 4 points behind leaders Bemerton.
Andover Town 7-1 East Cowes Vics
East Cowes Vics emphatically lost their fourth game in succession to North Hampshire side Andover Town in a manner that left Vics manager Richie Woodburn fuming, accusing his young side of some Monty Python-style defending.
Vics began the game brightly and were dominant over the 1st quarter hour with Charlie Marsek missing a golden opportunity from 6 yards. In the 16th minute, Jordan Chapman scored direct from the corner kick in a move Vics had practiced in training (0-1). However, the game then went pear shaped for the Island side.
In the 18th minute, the Vics Defence conceded a sloppy goal to allow Josh Bertie to equalize (1-1). Then, Andover were awarded a controversial penalty that was converted by Bertie (2-1). In the 35th minute, Bertie secured his hat trick by heading home from 2 yards. (3-1). Finally, captain Brendan Holmes put the home side 4-1 up at half-time with a 25-yard thunderbolt.
Worse was to follow after the half time break when defender Ollie West pulled a hamstring and Vics went down to 10 men. Andover took full advantage of the extra man with Bertie knocking in his 4th in the 55th minute (5-1), Ben Means adding a 6th in the 61st minute (6-1) and Bertie adding insult to injury for the Island side by adding 5th goal to his tally in injury time (7-1).
After the game, manager Richie Woodburn said:
“What was disappointing is that we began well but then fell apart. Our back four must have thought Christmas had come early and were like Santa Klaus handing out presents.”
Defeat leaves Vics in 16th place in Wessex League 1 with 17 points from 21 games.
United Services Portsmouth 4-1 Cowes Sports
An inconsistent Cowes side lost to US Portsmouth at the Victory Stadium by the same score line they had beaten Alton at Westwood Park last Saturday.
The Yachtsmen dominated the opening half hour of the game with John McKie coming closest to scoring for the Island side with a chip that just missed the upright. However, the Island side went into the half time break 1-0 down after conceding a Flo Vucaj headed goal from a corner.
US Portsmouth increased their lead in the 47th minute with a 25-yard drive from Cameron Quirke (2-0), which was followed by a 53rd minute tap in goal from Simon Woods (3-0). Ji Nash then scored a 57th minute consolation goal for the Yachtsmen (3-1) before Tom Dinsmore added a fourth for the home side a minute before the final whistle
Defeat leaves Cowes in 15th place in the Wessex Premier table with 25 points from 21 games.
