NEWPORT (IoW) 1–2 HAMWORTHY UNITED
‘The Port’ beaten in their first home Wessex League fixture of 2018.
On Saturday, 17 February, Newport, lying in 21st position in the Wessex League table, faced third placed Hamworthy United in their first home league game of 2018, all previous home fixtures having fallen victim to the wet weather.
Newport made three changes to the team that had lost away to league leaders, Andover Town, the previous Saturday: the youngster,Jack Turkington, replacing Liam Newbold in defence, Jared Wetherick returning after surgery in place of Mark Taylor and Liam Triggs coming in for the the Belgian striker, Aurele Beya.
Before the match, veteran keeper Gary Streeter received an award from chairman Stuart Ross for his 300th appearance in a Newport shirt.
The game saw little action of note in the first half, but sprang to life in the second minute after the break when the returning Jared Wetherick scored a blinding header.Unfortunately, ‘the Port’ were unable to hold onto their lead, with ‘the Hammers’ scoring two goals in reply, from Nathan Walker and Dan Cann. Newport threw on three substitutes, Reynolds, Holmes and Beya, but ‘the Bear’ found his efforts insufficient to regain any points for the home side. Even when the Dorset side had found themselves reduced to ten men, after one of their number had been sent off for a second yellow card, the home team still found themselves unable to find an equalizer.
The referee had an excellent game, being unafraid to take the difficult decisions – unfortunately, one of these was to book Emmerson Tattersall – which will result in his missing the following two games, having reached the total of ten yellows for the season.
Full time score: Newport (IoW) 2–1 Hamworthy United
19th placed Cowes Sports won at home to Bournemouth, meaning they are now nine points above Newport, although ‘the Port’ have two games in hand.
On Tuesday, 20 February, Newport travel to Portsmouth to play Baffins Milton Rovers, and on Saturday, 25 February will face Shaftesbury, the first of many home games. Let’s hope we start to reduce, and then overcome, this points deficit.
Newport: Streeter, Turkington, Quigley, Sainsbury, Pearce, Wetherick, Wright, Triggs, Urry, Kelly, Tattersall
Substitutes: Beya, Reynolds, Holmes
Substitute (not used): Powell
Attendance: 93