NEWPORT 1, EAST COWES VICS 1

IN their first league meeting in almost 30 years, Newport and East Cowes Vics saw out a draw in the bank holiday Monday Sydenhams Wessex Division 1 clash at St George's Park.

Vics looked the more lively of the two teams going forward in the early stages.

Isle of Wight County Press:

Jared Wetherick (centre) laid on the opener for George Holmes against East Cowes Vics.  File picture.

But as Newport came more into the game, they took the lead on 26 minutes — George Holmes tapping in Jared Wetherick's precise back-post header across the face of goal.

Vics responded brilliantly and equalised four minutes later when Jimmi Burton took an excellent ball into his feet, cut inside the full back and planted the ball into the far corner past helpless keeper, Ryan Hall.

The game changed dramatically on 38 minutes when Vics striker Elias Ahmed was given a straight red card for his lunging challenge on a Newport player.

After holding out until half-time, ten-man Vics reorganised and performed well defensively, well-backed by the midfield, for the remainder of the game to shut out any Newport pressure.

The result means East Cowes are now unbeaten in three league matches and climb up to fifth, with Newport, having played two fewer games, climbing to 12th and still unbeaten.

  • For a full report and pictures, see this Friday's County Press

Newport: Hall, Pearce, Triggs, McDonough, Powell, Sampson, Wright, Holmes, Wetherick, Craig, Taylor. Subs: Charlesworth, Fleming, Harmer, Drew, Streeter.

East Cowes Vics: Hunt, Woodburn, Walsh, Ballantyne, West, Przepolewski, Burton, Chapman, Browne, Butcher, Ahmed. Subs: Snow, Young, Hayward, Gregory.