Newport hit Brading for six in Isle of Wight U16 Cup semis

                      BRADING TOWN 0, NEWPORT 6

A VERY skilful Newport side played some quality football against Brading Town as they marched on to the final of the Isle of Wight U16 Cup.

It was a comfortable victory over plucky Brading at Bembridge’s Steyne Park on Sunday.

Newport’s Jake Wright takes on Brading substitute Tom Smith (in red).

Newport started brightly, playing a good, high tempo passing game, which Brading found difficult to negate to get themselves a foothold in the game.

With ten minutes gone, Newport took the lead.

Jake Wright took on three Brading defenders before he side-footed the ball into the corner.

Ben Snow scores his second goal for Newport.

Ten minutes later, Newport doubled their lead — again through the impressive Wright, who struck the ball into the top corner from 20 yards.

A string of good passing moves opened up more opportunities, which led to Newport adding two further goals to their tally before half-time, this time through through Ben Snow, who has been playing for Port’s first team this season, and Jaik Holten.

Adrian Voight's header hits the Brading post in the second half. 

With Brading 4-0 down at the interval, it was a case of playing for their pride in the second half.

But the half continued as the first half ended, with Newport dominating possession of the ball and creating more chances.

Newport added further goals though Snow and George Takel.

Zac Sullivan in action for Newport against Brading.

Brading kept going until the final whistle, despite the gulf between them.

Newport will play in the final against either Ryde Saints or Gurnard, at Beatrice Avenue, East Cowes, on Thursday, March 21.

After the game, Brading manager Mark Powell said: “It was always going to be a tough game for us and Newport applied a lot of pressure and capitalised on mistakes made in the first half, with some clinical finishing, but our speed on the counter-attack troubled them at times.

Jaik Holten takes on and beats Brading defender Brad Thompson.

“The second half was far more even, with Brading creating chances and battling hard until the final whistle.

“I’m proud of the spirit and attitude my team showed against a very good Newport team.”

Jaik Holten on the attack for Newport in their Isle of Wight U16 Cup semi-final against Brading.

Brading U16: Millis, Powell (capt), Carter, Toogood, Groves, Brook, Kernott, Lawrence, Bulpitt, Sands, Wilkinson. Subs: Smith, Hernandez, Wagstaff.

Newport U16: Law, Thompson, Hughes, Holten, Sheerin, Moss-Simmonds, Snow, Voight, Blackley, Takel, Sullivan, Wright.