For the third match running Newport lost out by a single goal to a top ten side.
In a match where both sides seemed to cancel each other out a late winner was enough to secure all three points for the visitors.
Newport were bolstered by the return of Emerson Tattersall who had recovered from a calf injury and Mark Taylor who had been unavailable for the last two matches.
Alresford started lively and in the first minute shot across goal which was deflected away for a corner.
Newport started steadily and a good move down the left hand side provided a shooting opportunity for Connor Kelly who’s effort went the wrong side of the post.
Both sides settled into a rhythm and were cancelling each other out. The best effort for Newport was from Mark Taylor shooting narrowly over the bar from distance. For Alresford the lively Geoff Dunn was providing problems for the Port’s defenders.
On 20 minutes Newport had a big shout for a penalty but the linesman’s flag had been raised for offside fractionally before the incident.
A dangerous moment for Newport came when Spike Pearce attempted a back pass which just lobbed over his own crossbar sparking premature celebrations in the Alresford camp who thought it had gone in the net.
On 39 minutes Scott Sampson had to be replaced by Darren Powell after his hamstring issues continued to plague him.
The remainder of the first half continuing with the stalemate and efforts on goal were all from some distance out.
Half Time : Newport 0 Alresford Town 0
Newport started the second half brightly and Aiden Sainsbury had an early shot which went narrowly over the bar.
Alresford were forced into a substitution on 51 minutes when captain Chris Mason had to be replaced by Ben White. The substitute was quickly in the action turning sharply in the box and shooting narrowly over the bar.
An innocuous challenge in the middle of the park caused a clash of heads and Newport’s Darren Powell came of the worst receiving a cut above his eye.This caused the Newport player to be off the pitch for some time as the flow of blood was stemmed. When he returned to the pitch he was sporting a Terry Butcher style bandage across his forehead albeit without the stains as the bleeding had been stopped.
Emerson Tattersall was causing problems for the Alresford defence with his direct runs at goal, one effort resulting a shot that went narrowly wide.
On 70 minutes Mark Taylor received a yellow card for pulling back an Alresford player breaking from midfield. The resulting free kick being driven straight at Gary Streeter.
It was very much end to end stuff now as the game opened up with both sides creating chances but just lacking a precise finish. A Tattersall cross for Newport provided Charlie Urry with a headed chance but he couldn’t quite get enough contact with the ball and went wide. At the other end Ben White shot across goal the effort narrowly missing the far post.
Newport brought on Aurele Beya for the tiring Emerson Tattersall.
On 85 minutes a great chance for Alresford was thwarted by some determined Newport defending. Geoff Dunn broke clear but shot straight at Gary Streeter who parried the ball and in the ensuing melee Newport were somehow able to scramble the ball to safety.
On 89 minutes, Newport hearts were broken as an Alresford move down the left hand side provided a cross that allowed Ben White the opportunity to head back across Gary Streeter and into the net.
Newport pushed forward Jared Wetherick in an effort to get the equaliser but Alresford managed to hold on and take the three points back to the mainland.
Full Time : Newport 0 Alresford Town 1
Newport: Streeter, Quigley, Reynolds, Sainsbury, Wetherick, Pearce, Sampson (Powell), Taylor, Urry, Kelly, Tattersall (Beya).
Alresford: Kempson, Burt, Davies, Clarke, McCartney, Doswell, Munro, Mason (White), Parry (Richards), Dunn, Blaxall (Cripps).
Referee: Declan Hellyer
Attendance 103