NEWPORT put in the performance of the day among the Isle of Wight's Wessex teams by beating struggling Andover Town 3-1 at St George's Park this afternoon (Saturday) to end a miserable run of five league defeats on the trot.
Mark Taylor and Jordan Browne got themselves on the scoresheet as Newport led 2-0 at the interval.
And Port made the game safe on 65 minutes when Jared Cousins side-footed home after a superb Connor Kelly run.
The only blot on the Islanders' copybook was on 81 minutes when sloppy defending allowed Andover to score a consolation goal.
The win ensured Newport leap-frogged local rivals East Cowes Vics, beaten 3-0 away at league leaders Amesbury Town.
In the Sydenhams Wessex Premier, Cowes Sports lost 2-1 at Westwood Park to Lymington Town.
The visitors scored four minutes in, but Cowes equalised through player-boss John McKie on 25 minutes, who smashed the ball into the top corner after defender Callum Chase slipped him in on goal.
Lymington took the lead in bizarre circumstances on 65 minutes when a long throw took a slight deflection off Jacob Jarvis and went straight in.
After the game, McKie said: "We played some of our best football of the season today. The lads were incredible.
"They played superb football the entire 90 minutes and I'm so proud of what they've achieved.
"We tried to do the right things all the time, so I couldn't be happier with the lads."
Whitecroft and Barton Sports continued their astounding run of results this season by beating Shanklin 2-1 in the third round of the Isle of Wight Memorial Cup at Sandy Lane, their third game in less than five days.
W&B, who won the Harwoods Island League Division 1 title last Monday and the Isle of Wight County Press Challenge Cup on Thursday evening, will play Northwood St John at home.
If they win that, they face East Cowes Sports at Sandy Lane again in the semi-final.
W&B also have an Isle of Wight Senior (Gold) Cup semi-final clash with holders Cowes Sports to come at St George's Park, Newport, on Tuesday, April 23, and the final of the Hampshire Intermediate Cup, which they first won two years ago, against Hampshire Premier side Bush Hill, at Winchester City on Saturday, May 11.
In Division 2 of the Island league, next Saturday's showdown between Carisbrooke United and Ryde Saints could decide which club joins champions Bembridge in Division 1 next season.
Carisbrooke beat Niton Community 8-0, while Ryde Saints beat Seaview 5-0 to remain second by two points with two to play.
If Carisbrooke beat Ryde Saints, they only need to beat bottom side Yarmouth & Calbourne to gain promotion.
But if it was to be a draw, Ryde Saints would have to beat Oakfield at home to go up, although a draw with the local rivals would mean Carisbrooke needing to overturn a negative goal difference of at least 11 goals against Yarmouth, who lost 14-0 to Ryde Saints in mid-week.
TODAY'S RESULTS (SATURDAY)
Sydenhams Wessex Premier League: Cowes Sports 1, Lymington Town 2.
Sydenhams Wessex Division 1: Amesbury Town 3, East Cowes Vics 0; Newport 3, Andover Town 1.
Andy Butler Sports Ground Specialist Isle of Wight Memorial Cup, third round: Whitecroft & Barton Sports 2, Shanklin 1.
Harwoods Renault Island League, Division 2: Carisbrooke United 8, Niton Community 0; Ryde Saints 5, Seaview 0; Yarmouth & Calbourne v Bembridge.
Combination 1: Oakfield Reserves 3, Binstead & COB Reserves 3; Northwood St John Reserves 2, Brading Town Reserves 0; West Wight Reserves 3, Shanklin Reserves.
Combination 2 League Cup, Group B: Seaview Reserves v Yarmouth & Calbourne Reserves 2.
FIXTURES
TUESDAY, APRIL 16
The Ken Morris IW Junior A Cup final: Oakfield v Ryde Saints, at Vicarage Lane, Brading (KO 7.30pm).
Combination 1: Ventnor Reserves v Northwood St John Reserves (KO 6pm).
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 17
Harwoods Renault Island League, Division 1: West Wight v Whitecroft & Barton Sports (KO 6pm).
Combination 2 League Cup, Group B: Carisbrooke United Reserves v Yarmouth & Calbourne Reserves.
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