THERE were mixed results for the Isle of Wight's Wessex sides, as Cowes Sports lost again, Newport got their new year off to a winning start and improving East Cowes Vics grabbed another point.
At Westwood Park, there was more gloom for the Yachtsmen after they went down 3-1 to high-flying Portchester.
Cowes, second bottom and now cut adrift from the pack above them, went a goal down after two minutes after a dubious penalty was awarded against defender, Scott McFarlane.
The home side battled hard, but were second best against a good Portchester outfit, who hit the post in the first half.
The match was a nightmare for McFarlane who then gave away another spot kick, which was converted for 2-0.
Cowes defender Aidan Bryan was unlucky to have a goal chalked off, but they pulled one back from the spot through Ewan Cranwell.
But as the Yachtsmen went in search of an equaliser, Portchester hit them on the break to add their third.
Old stager, Gary Streeter, was the man of the match as Newport won 3-1 away at second placed Alton.
Jordan Browne brought the ball down in the box, controlled it and slotted home to give Port the lead after two minutes.
Alton put the Islanders under a lot of pressure in the first half, but Streeter pulled off a great save and the bar came to their rescue.
After the break, Streeter pulled off two move superb saves to shut Alton out and Newport scored again, with Browne the provider after he held the ball up well to allow Jacob Reynolds to run in and beat the keeper at the near post.
Streeter pulled off yet another great save near the end, but Alton were awarded a penalty and scored, which made for a nervy end in injury time.
But all the pressure was relieved as Lewis Wright scored Newport's third in the third minute of injury time.
Improving East Cowes Vics moved up a place after earning a battling point against seventh placed Whitchurch United at Beatrice Avenue.
But Vics went a goal down on 29 minutes from the penalty spot.
Vics striker Elias Ahmed, short of goals this season, did his confidence no harm by bagging the equaliser ten minutes later — and that's how things stayed, with the Vics defence looking a much more solid unit under new boss Richie Woodburn.
In Division 1 of the Harwoods Island League, Whitecroft and Barton Sports started off 2020 with a 1-0 win away at Bembridge, to remain top, to go 13 points clear of Brading Town, who have four games in hand.
Down at the bottom, Ventnor won a vital six-pointer 3-0 against fellow strugglers, Carisbrooke United, at Watcombe Bottom.
Ventnor's win saw them leap-frog West Wight, beaten 7-0 at Northwood St John.
TODAY'S RESULTS (SATURDAY)
Sydenhams Wessex Premier: Cowes Sports 1, Portchester 3.
Division 1: Alton 1, Newport 3; East Cowes Vics 1, Whitchurch United 1.
Hants FA Vase, third round: Wymering 5, Newchurch 1.
Hants FA Vase, fourth round: Bisterne United 2, Adgestone 2 (Adgestone won on penalties); Newport Reserves 3, Compton Reserves 2; West Wight Reserves 4, Northwood St Johns Reserves 0.
Harwoods Renault Island League, Division 1: Bembridge 0, Whitecroft & Barton Sports 1; Northwood St John 7, West Wight 0; Pan Sports 1, Cowes Sports Reserves 4; Ryde Saints 2, ECS 2; Ventnor 3, Carisbrooke United 0.
Division 2: Oakfield 5, Wootton 0; Seaview 4, Yarmouth & Calbourne 1; Vectis 2, Niton Community 0.
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