THERE was joy and despair in equal doses for the Isle of Wight's Wessex League sides this evening (Tuesday).

In Division 1 of the Wessex League, Newport hammered lowly Whitchurch United 4-0 at Smallbrook Stadium.

Striker Joe Butcher opened the scoring on six minutes with a sweet strike, followed up with a great save by the visiting keeper.

Ten minutes later, Rafferty Boyd-Kerr doubled Newport's lead with a superb header directly from a corner.

Newport continued where they left off in the second half — a fantastic run down the right from Connor Kelly, who blasts and makes it 3-0.

Substitute, Ji Nash, fired home from the edge of the Whitchurch box on 87 minutes to wrap up the game — an easy 4-0 win, which hoisted them up to second place with a game to go.

In their final home game of the season, great escapists East Cowes Vics — with a poor record at Beatrice Avenue this season — gave their fans plenty to cheer about as they beat mid-table Verwood Town 1-0, Charlie Hart the first half goalscorer. 

The win lifted Vics to 15th — their highest position this season.

However, while Port and Vics had plenty to smile about, it was a different story for Yachtsmen fans at Westwood Park — Cowes Sports crushed 5-1 by high-flying Stoneham.

After going 4-0, the Islanders pulled one back from the penalty spot in the second half through substitute Scott McFarlane.

Cowes keeper Ed Hatt made a superb save in a one on one situation late on, but could not prevent Stoneham adding their fifth to round off a miserable night for the Yachtsmen, already safe from relegation.