SYDENHAMS WESSEX PREMIER LEAGUE

CHRISTCHURCH v NEWPORT IoW

MATCH RESULT: 2 - 1

GOAL SCORERS: BEN OSBORNE (2)

1. STEWART KEARN
2. ADAM COSTELLO
3. DAVID LEGG
4. DAN CRUTCHLEY (CAPT)
5. SHAUN BRIAN
6. JAMES BURDEN
7. MARK SMITH
8. MARC FAIRBROTHER
9. BEN OSBORNE
10. CALLUM BURT
11. SAM GRIFFIN

SUBS USED:

COLIN DAND
JACK SWANN

Newport must be sick and tired of Hurn Bridge this season as this was their third visit and their third defeat but they must be wondering how they left this time with nothing to show for their efforts.

Church had the ideal start in the third minute when after a short corner played by Mark Smith to Marc Fairbrother his cross fell kindly for leading scorer Ben Osborne to swivel and shoot left footed into the net. Shortly after this the visitors had to substitute goalkeepers due to an injury which led to the introduction into the game of an old favourite Gary Streeter.

The remainder of the half saw Newport having plenty of possession but the Church back four were in solid form restricting them to long range shots which were off target but Streeter at the other end was not unduly bothered either.
Kicking down the slope to their favoured end in the second half it was hoped Church would add to their goal tally but the visitors looked the more dangerous and on 65 minutes keeper Kearn was lucky to escape when he overstretched but the ball fell kindly to a home defender who cleared the ball. However Newport were not to be denied and two minutes later a defensive mistake allowed them to draw level when Vale netted from close range.

Almost immediately though Church came close to taking the lead again but Fairbrother was denied by a superb save by the substitute keeper but he was given no chance 3 minutes later when the deciding goal arrived on 74 minutes. The influential Mark Smith won a challenge and played the ball wide to Sam Griffin who was having a Jekyll and Hyde afternoon but this time it was the latter as he beat three opponents and played the ball across the goal to Osborne who had the simple task of putting the ball into the net. Newport pushed forward and twice came close to netting at the end of the game when firstly a header went narrowly wide and then a deflected shot went into the side netting.

A valuable 3 points for Graham Kemp and his men who showed fighting qualities to keep right up there in the championship chase and also maintaining their unbeaten home record and I am sure that the visitors will cause problems to the other sides at the top of the table.

MAN OF THE MATCH: BEN OSBORNE

Donners