WESSEX LEAGUE DIVISION 1 PLAY-OFF SEMI-FINAL
NEWPORT 2, FOLLAND SPORTS 2
(Newport win 5-4 on penalties)
NEWPORT Football Club goalkeeper Gary Streeter was the hero of the hour — rolling back the years to make the crucial penalty save which booked the Isle of Wight club's place in the Wessex League Division 1 play-off final on Saturday.
After the game ended 1-1 at full-time, Newport thought they had won it in the first minute of stoppage time in extra time, thanks to a coolly taken Joe Craig lob.
But the referee controversially went beyond the four minutes of added time and awarded Folland a penalty, which they scored with the last kick of the game to make it 2-2, to the anger of the 200-plus crowd at Smallbrook Stadium this evening (Wednesday).
With Folland on a high after their match-saving spot kick, the odds were with them on winning the lottery of a penalty shoot-out.
But after it went 3-3 on penalties, Streeter kept his cool and saved a penalty with his feet struck down the centre of the goal.
Two further penalties were scored, which left Connor Kelly, a regular match-winner who was strangley anonymous throughout the game, stepped up to smash home the all-important fifth penalty to book a home play-off final against in-form Laverstock and Ford, who have a day extra to recover after beating Andover New Street 3-0 last night (Tuesday).
- For a full match report, with pictures, read here: Newport one match away from promotion to Wessex Premier after play-off win
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