East Cowes Victoria were defeated by Mew Milton Town in front of 233 spectators at Beatrice Avenue after 7 successive league victories.
Manager Alex Smith again had players missing, with Harrison Yates unavailable and Liam Triggs still injured, but was able to select Jacob Reynolds and Aedan Coode.
Vics began the game brightly with Jacob Reynolds sending a thunderous drive smashing against the upright. Josh Neale then had a goal attempt well saved by New Milton keeper Luke Dennison.
New Milton went ahead in the 26th minute when the ball dropped kindly for full back Elliott Pearce-Eavis, who smashed home past Fraser Law (0-1).
In the 40th minute, Josh Neale was pulled down in the penalty area, with the referee awarding a spot kick without hesitation. Zak Sullivan stepped up to send the New Milton keeper the wrong way (1-1).
Vics then took the lead in the 47th minute when an effort from Elliott Wheeler took a deflection before flying into the net (2-1).
Half time: East Cowes Victoria 2-1 New Milton Town
Vics continued to press New Milton from the start of the 2nd half, with Rafferty Boyd-Kerr having a goal attempt cleared off of the line on 47 minutes, and Liam Newbold sending a strike from distance just off target.
Tragedy struck for East Cowes Victoria when Zak Sullivan diverted a New Milton shot past Fraser Law in the 74th minute (2-2).
New Milton then went down to 10 men when Billy Maybury – who had been sin binned in the first half – was given his marching orders after a poor challenge on Josh Neale.
Vics came close to taking the lead 4 minutes from full time when Zak Sullivan had a free kick fingertipped over the crossbar by Dennison.
But New Milton were destined to take all 3 points. A free kick on 90+1 minutes was flicked on by Brad Snelling for Pearce-Eavis to finish in style at the far post to bag his brace (2-3).
With Vics pouring forward looking for the equaliser, Brad Snelling raced clean through from a clearance to give the away side a 2-goal cushion (2-4).
In the closing seconds of the game, the home side came close to pulling a goal back when a volley from Elliott Wheeler bounced off the upright.
Full time: East Cowes Victoria 2-4 New Milton Town
East Cowes Victoria: Law, Snow, Boyd-Kerr, Newbold, Wheeler, Sullivan, Chapman, Coode, Jones, Reynolds, J. Neale Subs: C. Neale, Voller, Hart, Perrin, Kirby Man-of-the-match: Rafferty Boyd-Kerr
Defeat leaves East Cowes Victoria 4th in Wessex Division 1 with 53 points from 24 games, 15 points behind leaders New Milton but with 4 games in hand.
PHOTOS:
PORT DRIFT FURTHER FROM PLAYOFF POSITIONS AFTER LOSS AT CLANFIELD
Newport found themselves 2 goals adrift of Clanfield inside 10 minutes and were unable to get back on level terms.
Port’s starting 11 required a shake up, with injuries to Macauley Watterson and Josh Younie, coupled with an unavailable Matt Oakley, resulting in Leon Pitman donning the captain’s armband and the returning Henry West partnering George Holbrook in the heart of the defence.
Clanfield went ahead after 5 minutes when a deflected shot from close range from Rodney Gomes wrong-footed Port keeper Pitman (1-0).
5 minutes later, a 30-yard screamer from Clanfield’s Leigh Shadbolt flew into the top corner of Pitman’s goal (2-0).
Port pressed for an equaliser with Jez Conway and Ji Nash having half chances and Michael Thompsett flashing a header wide from a corner.
In first half injury time, Joe Butcher caught out the home keeper at his near post (2-1) to give the Newport a potential way back.
Port’s goal came when they were down to 10 men, as George Holbrook was off the pitch nursing a bloodied nose.
Half time: Clanfield 2-1 Newport IW
The 2nd half began with Joe Craig replacing the injured Holbrook.
Clanfield again scored inside the first 5 minutes of the half after a deep run from midfield wasn’t picked up, and Joe Briggs was able to pick his spot (3-1).
The home side then failed to register a shot on target for the remainder of the game. The Clanfield keeper, however, was kept busy, tipping a shot from Jez Conway onto the upright and keeping out a late strike from Ji Nash. Joe Butcher also saw a free kick comfortably held.
Substitutes Luca Weeks and Frankie Foster joined the fray before the end of the contest, but Port were unable to recover the 2-goal deficit.
Full time: Clanfield 3-1 Newport IW
Newport IW: Pitman, West, Thompsett, Holbrook (Craig), Catania (Foster), Walsh (Weeks), Butcher, Young, Grace, Nash, Conway
Man-of-the-match: Michael Thompsett
Newport’s defeat leaves the County Town club 7th in Wessex Division 1, 8 points adrift of Hamworthy United in the 4th playoff spot.
