Newport were comfortably beaten by Wessex League 1 leaders Bemerton Heath Harlequins in gale-force wind conditions at Smallbrook on Saturday.
The Port began the 1st half with the wind behind them but failed to take advantage of the elements in their favour. The opening half-an-hour was a cagey affair with no clear chances other than when a poor Port back pass was intercepted by a Bemerton player in a dangerous position, but the ball flew harmlessly into the air.
The game came to life in the 35th minute when Bemerton’s Devon Arnold appeared to have been felled in the Port penalty area. Referee James Colley had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot, and Bemerton’s Justin Bennett sent a low shot to the right of an outstretched Joe McCormack in the Newport goal (0-1).
Things went from bad to worse for the home side with new signing Joe Hancott being sinbinned for dissent in the 38th minute. Connor Kelly came close to scoring for the Port a minute from half time when he was put through, but saw his shot rebound off Bemerton keeper Patrick Creese before falling to Joe Craig, who also failed to take advantage. The final chance of the half fell to Bemerton’s Justin Bennett, who forced a point-blank save from McCormack.
HT: Newport IoW 0-1 Bemerton Heath Harlequins
Bemerton, now with the wind behind them, began the 2nd half brightly with substitute George Bishop hitting the crossbar before Justin Bennett failed to convert the rebound. 5 minutes later, Bishop had a further attempt on goal, but had his shot well saved by McCormack. Connor Kelly then had a powerful strike stopped by the Bemerton keeper. However, in the 67th minute, Devon Arnold finally scored for Bemerton, converting a cross from the left from close to the goal line (0-2).
Bemerton then saw a corner kick rebound off the crossbar before a mistake by Joe Hancott in the 86th minute gifted the ball to Bemerton centre forward Ronan Clancy, who sent a low shot past McCormack and into the right side of the goal (0-3).
8 minutes from full time, Connor Kelly scored a consolation goal for the Port with a poacher’s goal after substitute Liam Harper had had his shot deflected by Creese (1-3).
FT: Newport IoW 1-3 Bemerton Heath Harlequins
Newport IoW: McCormack, Hughes, Younie, Hancott, McDonough, Triggs, Kelly, Burford, Wright (Harper), Craig, Butcher (Reynolds) Subs not used: Browne, Streeter, Pearce
After the game, Bemerton manager (and former Newport player) Shaun Hale said:
“We weren’t brilliant, but It was a bad day at the office for Newport. We coped well with the conditions and were the deserved winners. We didn’t come here expecting it to be one-sided. We did our homework on Newport and coped well with the threat of their wide players.”
Newport’s defeat leaves them in 2nd place in Wessex League 1 with 40 points from 11 games, 4 points behind Saturday’s opponents, Bemerton.
Millbrook 5-1 East Cowes Vics
East Cowes Vics had their run of 2 successive victories ended by Millbrook, the team a place above them in Wessex Division 1.
Vics, despite having a gale-force wind behind them, trailed at the half time break after their captain and centre forward, Perry Harding, scored on the half hour mark after latching onto a long ball (1-0). Vics conceded again shortly before the interval when a crisp shot went past keeper Alex Ram and into the top corner of the goal (2-0).
Vics then took the game to Millbrook in the 2nd half with a couple of goal attempts by Ryan Gregory being cleared off the Millbrook goal line.However, the Dockers deflated Vics in the 65th minute by putting a 3rd goal past their defence (3-0). In the 75th minute a low cross bobbled dambuster-style through the Vics defence before falling to Harding to score his hat trick (4-0).
5 minutes from full time, substitute Toby Cousins latched on to a long ball before muscling his way past a defender to get a consolation goal for the Island side (4-1). However, in the 90th minute, Callum Drakee dribbled through a Vics defence that parted like the Red Sea before putting the ball past keeper Ram to make the Islanders’ misery complete (5-1).
FT: Millbrook 5-1 East Cowes Vics
East Cowes Vics: Ram, Terry, White, West, Gregory, Hayward, Chapman, Yates, Burton, Snow, Wright Subs: Woodford, Cousins, Newbold
After the game, Vics manager Richie Woodburn said:
“They weren’t the better side. We didn’t adjust to the conditions. We had plenty of possession but failed in the final third of the field and were let down by some comical defending. However, I was pleased to introduce 16-year-old George Terry to the side. We are a team that likes to give youth a chance.”
Defeat leaves Vics in 14th place in Wessex Division 1 with 17 points from 18 games.
Cowes Sports had their Wessex Premier game against Alresford Town at Westwood Park postponed due to adverse weather conditions making travel to the Isle of Wight impossible for the away side.
Gale force winds also caused difficulties for the return journey of East Cowes Vics, who were stuck in Southampton for some hours after their game against Millbrook on Saturday evening.
