Whitchurch Utd 3 Newport IOW 1.

In the local Island press leading up to this game it was mentioned that Whitchurch was one of Newport’s bogey grounds and that they hoped things would change this time round.

Unfortunately for Newport this was not the case as Whitchurch came back from a disappointing Vase exit at Chippenham Park to maintain their unbeaten league record against a side that will be there or thereabouts at the top of the table come the season’s end.

Whitchurch included Danny Barker in midfield and welcomed back Josh Harfield from suspension and got off to the best possible start with an early goal.

Jack McCarthy found space to chip the ball into the area and Danny Phillips’s control took him past two defenders before beating Gary Streeter at his near post.

The keeper then punched away a corner and recovered very quickly to block the follow up from Jack Garner as home side looked far more dangerous.

The Islanders, despite the guile of Seabrook in midfield, persisted in playing the ball forward for Charlie Smeeton and Scott Jones who made little progress against the Whitchurch back three.

The home side were forced into a change when the injured Jamie Mansell was forced to give way to Adam Battison then Streeter was booked for handling outside his area but McCarthy’s free-kick was wide, and at the other end Brad Snelling saved well from Jones before the same player saw another effort bounce to safety off Cole Hinchcliffe.

The last action of the half saw a long range effort from Garner shave the bar.

Newport manager Steve Brougham’s team talk quickly went out of the window when Whitchurch doubled their lead.

The hard working Battison won the ball in midfield and sent McCarthy away to set up Harfield to score from the edge of the area.

Snelling clung on to a fierce drive from Seabrook before Max Draper was judged to have brought down Garner in the box and Josh Green converted the penalty. Newport scored a consolation goal in stoppage time with substitute Liam Triggs sending a header wide of Snelling.

A good performance and three more points for the home side with a victory built on the solid performances of Adam Pearson, Mitch Fear and Hinchcliffe at the back that must have left Smeeton and co with the impression that they were running into a wall.

Manager Carl Bennett will surely be pleased with his team’s response after the previous week.