Two red cards and a 99th minute goal in the Isle of Wight Derby

The last time Newport and East Cowes Vics met was Boxing Day 2022, which saw Port come away 2-0 winners.

For Newport, a win in this match was vital to keep their hopes of clinching the title, 

Vics' survival in the Wessex League was secured yesterday evening (April 6) after Amesbury's defeat made it mathematically impossible for them to finish in the bottom three.

Newport 1 -1 East Cowes Vics (Wessex League Division 1)

With the sun shining at Smallbrook and a bumper crowd of 416 watching from the sideline, the first five minutes saw both sides firing over the bar from distance.

In the 13th, Newport coach Gary Streeter, whose still on the Port roster of players, was sent to the stands for dissent after strongly disagreeing with the linesman’s decision to give a throw-in to Vics.

It was feisty affair at Smallbrook Stadium this afternoon (Image: Isle of Wight County Press)

From the throw, a cross found skipper Callum Chase, whose speculative overhead kick flew over the crossbar.

Just before the half-hour mark, a free kick on the right flank, whipped into the box by Port’s Kelly Connor, led to a close-range powerful strike saved by Vics' Alex Ram.

In the 31st, Joe Craig spun the defender in the box and fired low and hard toward goal, with Ram again getting down fast to save at his near post.

As the teams went into half-time, it was Newport who had edged the first 45, with the Vics keeper pulling off some crucial stops to keep the score level.

Both side's defences held strong in the first half (Image: Isle of Wight County Press)

As the second half kicked off, a miracle happened, as the aforementioned, Gary Streeter, returned to the Port bench, despite his dismissal, right under the nose of the referee and linesman.

The game remained relatively back and forth until the 64th when Ram pumped a Vics goal kick up the pitch, which was immediately won back in the midfield by Port. Craig found himself with the ball, looked up, and played a perfectly weighted ball through the defence into KELLY who fired it across goal and into the corner for one-nil.

Less than ten minutes later, Port were left scratching their heads as striker Joe Craig was sent off.

The referee and linesmen discussing what to do with Port striker Joe Craig (Image: Isle of Wight County Press)

An incident off the ball caught the eye of the linesman after a Vics defender was unhappy with a challenge by the Port striker. The officials discussed for a few minutes before Craig was called across and given his marching orders.

In the 79th, the dismissed Streeter, somehow in the dugout for the second half, actually entered the field of play as physio to attend to an injured Port player. Incredible.

Gary Streeter returns to the field after being dismissed in the first half (Image: Isle of Wight County Press)

Seven minutes from the 90, Port substitute Ji Nash had a great chance to double the lead but saw his close-range shot fire over the crossbar before the linesmen raised his flag for offside.

In the ninth minute of added time, a cross-field ball by Vics found a striker after a Port defender tripped, and, after spotting the Port keeper Leon Pitman off his line, Adam VOLLER dinked the ball and watched as it nestled into the back of the net.

The last-minute equaliser means Port are now seven points away from league leaders Andover New Street but sees Vics up to 36 points, closing in on Fawley above.

On Wednesday (April 11), Vics travel to Andover to face the league leaders – with Port praying the Islanders do them a huge favour – and Newport head to Fleetlands.