Landlords East Cowes Victoria comprehensively beat tenants Newport in front of 658 spectators at Beatrice Avenue this afternoon (Boxing Day, 26th December 2024).
This was the biggest crowd by far in Wessex Division 1 in the season to date and the 2nd largest in both Wessex divisions.
Victory for the Victorians ended Newport’s long 13-game unbeaten run, returning the East Cowes club to the playoff positions, 3 points ahead of their local rivals and with 2 games in hand.
Vics manager Alex Smith was forced into 1 change: with Liam Triggs unavailable, in came Scott Jones after missing last week’s game.
Port had the first effort on goal, with Joe Butcher’s shot deflected for a corner.
Vics then had a good spell, with Aedan Coode’s shooting just wide, Toby Snow sending a cross agonisingly out of reach of the foot of Scott Jones, Jacob Reynolds having an effort deflected, and a Liam Newbold header from a Coode corner narrowly missing the target.
Josh Neale then dispatched a free kick just over the crossbar.
Port appeared dangerous on the break, with the long ball for Kai Grace causing real problems. Grace came close on 25 minutes, following which Josh Younie just missed the target.
The Victorians took the lead on the half hour mark: a corner was met by Liam Newbold; Josh Younie’s block hit the crossbar, the ball falling to Elliot Wheeler with his back to goal, and his overhead effort beat Port keeper Pitman (1-0).
The 1st half drama continued after the goal, with Kai Grace hitting the side netting for Port in the 42nd minute, after which Scott Jones shot just wide on the stroke of half time.
Half time: East Cowes Victoria 1-0 Newport IW
The 1st chance of the 2nd half came on the hour mark when Vics’ Jacob Reynolds fired straight at Leon Pitman, who smothered the shot. Vics had further chances with Josh Neale unlucky in the 62nd minute, and Jordan Chapman sending a long range effort sailing over the crossbar in the 65th.
The Victorians then increased their lead on 66 minutes, Scott Jones finding space before passing the ball to Jacob Reynolds, who smashed home from 10 yards (2-0).
Port came close to pulling a goal back on 70 minutes, with Ji Nash sending the ball wide of the upright. Vics centre forward Scott Jones was unlucky in the 80th minute, forcing a great save from the excellent Pitman.
Vics came close to grabbing a 3rd goal when Caleb Neale struck the crossbar 8 minutes from full time.
The East Cowes side ended the game deserved winners after thwarting Port’s attacks for the remainder of the game.
Full time: East Cowes Victoria 2-0 Newport IW
East Cowes Victoria: Ram, Snow, Yates, Newbold (c), Wheeler, Chapman, Coode, Boyd-Kerr, Jones, Reynolds, J. Neale Subs: C. Neale, Perrin, Sullivan, Holdsworth. Hart Man-of-the-match: Liam Newbold
Newport IW: Pitman, West, Thompsett, Young, Watterson (c), Holbrook, Nash, Younie, Butcher, Craig, Grace Subs: Goldberg, Oatley, Walsh, Ramage, Wright Man-of-the-match: Michael Thompsett
Wessex Division 1 table (top 8) below:
After the game, winning Vics manager Alex Smith said:
“It was a really comprehensive performance overall. The 1st half was pretty scrappy. Newport provided a real threat from set pieces. But in the 2nd half, we were really comfortable and probably deserved another goal.
“There were a few big performances out there. Liam Newbold deserved man-of-the-match, but there were 1 or 2 others. We gave Rafferty Boyd-Kerr an out-and-out marking job on Joe Craig. He managed to keep a very dangerous player quiet.
“The 658 crowd was a credit to both ourselves and newport for putting good sides together this year.
“We have to take the spirit and the courage we showed today to every single game. There aren’t any ‘easy’ games. We have to have that mindset week in, week out.”
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