WESSEX LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
TUESDAY 11TH OCTOBER 2022
NEWPORT IOW 5 VERWOOD TOWN 1

The proposed kick off time of 19.15 was sabotaged by a later than expected departure to IOW due to excessive traffic delays on the way to the ferry, resulting in a kick off at 19.50hrs.

An aggressive start by Newport had us back pedalling. A shot cleared the bar with 2 minutes gone and then Mitchell pulling off a great save a minute later. Kerr and Davis got in the way of shots from just outside the box and Broad headed clear a cross into the penalty box. A torrid start.

We weathered the storm. Carswell and McWilliams in mid field worked hard to turn the tide.

Fishlock had donned the No.9 shirt and despite close marking managed to power his way to the edge of the box unleashing a volley the keeper did well to palm away from the top corner.

Newport countered. A runner broke free only to lose the opportunity of scoring to a Mitchell dive at feet deflecting the ball wide from danger.

21 minutes a laxity in defence allowed a runner to steer the ball past Mitchell. ..0-1.

5 minutes later we went two down from a corner by a fierce header into the top corner. 0-2.

8 minutes left of the half and again an unmarked runner had enough space to cut into the box and grab a third. 0-3.

Half Time 0-3

A disastrous start to the second half. 5 minutes and 0-4. All credit to the team. Despite the score line, no heads dropped and we produced a fight back pegging Newport into their third and going close with a couple of efforts. McHales drive 15 minutes into the half was well saved by the keeper and Cam Smith’s volley inched over the bar from 20 yards.

Tabor was on to give a fresh pair of legs and was soon in the thick of it blocking an attack on our right and then sparking a counter through Carswell. Fishlock had a shot headed off the line and McWilliams had a great effort palmed over the bar.

We suffered a fifth goal against with 5 minutes left.

We pegged away and was rewarded for our determination when just before the whistle pulled a goal back through a Cam Smith unstoppable volley.

Result 1-5