WITH seemingly three points in the bag for Newport, three goals conceded in the dying minutes left them shell-shocked as they settled for a point at home to Romsey Town.

In front of a crowd of 147, Newport, of Sydenhams Wessex Division 1 were coasting at 3-0 with only three minutes remaining on the clock.

Newport started like a house on fire, with Lewis Wright's shot from just inside the box forcing a great save from the Romsey keeper with less than two minutes gone.

After 12 minutes, the Islanders' top scorer this season, Connor Kelly, opened the scoring from a decisive counter attack.

Kelly added his and Newport's second on 36 minutes — slotting home when one-on-one with the keeper after being brilliantly put through on goal.

It was plain sailing before half time when Jordan Browne finished off a Neo Lamb squared ball for 3-0.

Newport could have added to their tally when Joe Craig struck the post on 51 minutes.

But Spike Pearce was sent off just after the hour mark for his second bookable offence.

With two minutes left, Romsey scored what was considered only a consolation, for 3-1.

But within the space of two minutes, Romsey scored again, to make added on time, squeaky bum time.

And against all the odds, the visitors equalised in the fourth minute of added time to leave Port trudging off the field as though they had lost.

Cowes Sports lost again in the Sydenhams Wessex Premier — 4-2 away at Hamble Club.

Up against them was the player who hauled them out of trouble last season — former striker and player-manager, John McKie.

McKie was fouled for a penalty and the opening goal on 20 minutes.

Two further goals followed — one of them highly controversial.

But the Yachtsmen pulled one back through Jimmy Wykes, thanks to a great ball from Ewan Cranwell.

Second half sub, Gareth Bricknell, and a Hamble player were sent off, but the same two Cowes players combined to pull it back to 3-2 — Wykes again the scorer and Cranwell, the provider.

But a 35-yard screamer from the home side settled it, to inflict more misery on Cowes boss, Max Draper. 

With the wet weather of earlier this week, much of the Island's football programme was again decimated by waterlogged pitches.

But in Division 1 of the Island league, the top game was the clash between Shanklin and Cowes Sports Reserves at the County Ground.

After a closely-fought first half, Shanklin led through Kyle Drew, followed by a second from defender, Jason Smythers, for a 2-0 win.

The win saw Shanklin leap-frog Cowes into second place — nine points adrift of Whitecroft and Barton Sports, whose match at Binstead & COB fell victim to waterlogging.

                      TODAY'S RESULTS (SATURDAY)

Sydenhams Wessex Premier: Hamble Club 4, Cowes Sports 2.

Division 1: Newport 3, Romsey Town 3.

Harwoods Renault Isle of Wight League, Division 1: Carisbrooke United 0, Northwood St John 7; Shanklin 2, Cowes Sports Reserves 0; Ventnor 0, ECS 1.

Combination 1: ECS Reserves 2, West Wight Reserves 0; Ryde Saints Reserves 2, Oakfield Reserves 2; Sandown Reserves 0, Shanklin Reserves 0; Whitecroft & Barton Sports Reserves 8, Carisbrooke United Reserves 1.

Combination 2: Osborne Coburg Reserves 3, Vectis Reserves 3.