Port discover ruthless streak in second half

TONIGHT'S Isle of Wight derby result in Division 1 of the Sydenhams Wessex League did not flatter Newport who did in the second half what they failed to do in the first — be ruthless in front of goal.

After a summer ravaged by lockdown, the sell-out 300-strong crowd expected a game every bit as entertaining as the last one played in January.

There were enough chances created to give the final score the look of a memorable spectacle — but it took more than an hour of play before they saw some quality finishing in front of goal.

The first half scoreline should have seen Newport leading 3-1.

But a mixture of frantic Vics defending at times and poor finishing from Newport in the goalless first half gave Richie Woodburn some cause to hope East Cowes could get a result.

Newport's Jake Wright was unlucky to see his curling effort from the left of the penalty box skim off the Vics crossbar after 14 minutes, after a stale opening full of mis-placed passes.

Vics almost scored themselves a minute later when an inviting cross from the left was poked behind for a corner.

Port striker, Jordan Browne made room on the edge of the box and got a powerful shot away, but Vics skipper Ryan Gregory did well to deflect it wide of the post on 26 minutes.

It sparked a flurry of attacks from Newport, who seemed to find another gear after their lacklustre start, with Connor Kelly putting in some superb crosses that deserved better finishing.

On the half hour mark, Scott Barron was totally unmarked and missed a real sitter from six yards — somehow heading wide when it looked easier to score.

Kelly then made a great run down the left and beat two defenders, before screwing his shot just wide.

Vics survived and should have gone in front on 32 minutes when a long, high ball to the back post was brilliantly headed back across goal, only for the unmarked Jordan Chapman to blast wide, when a little composure was needed.

Wright should have done better just before the break when a pinpoint Kelly cross was met with a powerful downward header into the turf and over.

Vics started the second half the better when Gregory's header drifted just over the bar, followed a minute later by an equally good chance which saw Joe Craig head wide, when well positioned close in.

Newport's Scott barron and Vics striker, Elias Ahmed, had an interesting duel at Beatrice Avenue this evening (Tuesday).

After a scrappy 15-minute period, Vics thought they would take the lead when a superb cross from Ji Nash was just flicked away from two onrushing strikers by the excellent Martin McDonough, who did not put a foot wrong all evening at the back — snuffing out anything within his vicinity.

Then, on 65 minutes, Newport broke the deadlock when Kelly was put through one-on-one — making no mistake as he expertly slammed the ball into the far corner.

Although Vics were just a goal down, their huff and puff did not translate into creativity as the forward line struggled to find a way thought Newport's solid back line.

But they almost pulled level on 78 minutes when a sweeping move from left to right saw a cross missed by Jimmi Burton, then Brett Young, following up, shot straight at Gary Streeter in the Port goal.

Two minutes later, Newport doubled their lead when a corner from the left was headed home by Barron, who atoned for his first half howler — ending the game as a contest.

Browne should have done better on 82 minutes when he slid in and completely missed a superb low cross, across the six-yard box.

Newport's Joe Craig in action.

With time running out, Newport grabbed their third — a superb goal out of nothing when Kelly drilled a long, arrowed ball from the right wing to the left, which found Joe Butcher, who finished it in much the same way as the opening goal.

Right on full time, Ryan Hughes made a perfectly-timed darting run from the right into the box to meet a 40-yard pass, which he side-footed stright at Steinborne-Busse.

The win made it six points gained in the space of four days, which, with tonight's other Division 1 results, saw Newport leap into fifth place.   

East Cowes Vics: Steinborne-Busse, O.West, White, H.West, Gregory (capt), Young, Chapman, Newbold, Burton, Ahmed, Hayward. Subs: Nash, Catania, Furness, Greenslade.

Newport: Streeter, Hughes, Lamb, Przespolewski, McDonough (capt), Barron, Kelly, Wright, Younie, Browne, Craig. Subs: Butcher, McCormack, Pearce, Taylor, Reynolds.