The Port scraped past Fawley by a single goal on a Saturday which saw a hat trick of victories for Isle of Wight Wessex League sides over their mainland rivals.
Newport started the game without experienced defender Martin McDonough (suspended) and Joe Craig (injured). Joe Butcher graced the substitutes bench with Liam Harper making the starting 11.
The Port began the game on the front foot with an early chance when Connor Kelly broke free of his man on the left, but Jake Wright was unable to control the ball and Jordan Browne shot through a crowded penalty area to force a save from keeper’s legs. The 1st 15 minutes were all Newport pressure until a long-range Fawley shot bounced off the top-right corner of Joe McCormack’s goal.
The Port took the lead on 29 minutes through a close-range effort from Jordan Browne from the edge of the 6-yard box, his 24th goal of the season to date (1-0).
Shortly before half time, Fawley saw a free kick go just over the crossbar, and Connor Kelly had a shot covered by the Oilers’ keeper
Half time: Newport IoW 1-0 Fawley
Liam Harper went off at the start of the 2nd half to be replaced by Jacob Reynolds, and Joe Butcher came on for Liam Triggs. In the 71st minute, Reynolds missed a golden opportunity to score from 5-yards but was unable to connect properly and could only direct a weak effort at the Fawley keeper.
Jared Wetherick came on in the closing stages of the game and was unlucky not to score when he had a goal disallowed by the linesman, apparently for handball.
Full time: Newport 1-0 Fawley
Newport IoW: McCormack, Hughes, Lamb (Wetherick), Burford, Pearce, Triggs, Kelly, Hancott, Browne, Wright, Harper (Reynolds) Subs: Butcher, Streeter
After the game, Newport co-manager Stewart Shepherd said:
“It was a good battle, but Fawley didn’t really trouble us. The wind was against us in the 1st half, but we grew into the game. We missed the presence of Joe Craig.”
Newport’s win leaves them in 2nd place in Wessex Division 1, 4 points behind leaders Bemerton but with a game in hand.
