○Newport (IoW)3–1Andover Town

Any expectation that Andover Town would complete their league campaign with their fifth successive victory at St Georges Park quickly failed to materialise. For long periods,in what otherwise was a poor game, Newport ran the show and it was not until the final thirty minutes or so that Andover looked likely to spring a late revival but hope failed to spring eternal.

During the virtually one sided first half Andover had Dave Tasker to thank for keeping the scoreline down to reasonable proportions.Whilst he could do little to prevent the goals that counted his quick reactions dealing with various other chances kept Andover in the game. Two of these were in the first five minutes whilst at the other end Newport’s veteran goalkeeper Gary Streeter’s juggling denied Shaquille Gwengwe a scoring opportunity. Tasker again came to the rescue to deny Connor Kelly but with ten minutes gone Newport took the lead.A free kick taken from wide on the right sailed over everyone in the box before finding the net just inside the far post. Andover’s only other major chance in the first half was Josh Bertie,’s free kick that Streeter was fortunate to divert for a corner.Newport’s second goal arrived just before the half hour mark.After Andover failed to deal with a short corner the ball came back into the box and Jordon Brown provided the finishing touch.

Half time - Newport 2-0 Andover Town

Five minutes after the second period got underway a thirty yarder by Bertie was heading for the top corner but Streeter just managed to palm the ball over the bar.If that had gone in then Andover’s fortunes may have improved.However it was not to be and just past the hour mark Newport scored their third and deceive goal.Not for the first time this season across into the box was not cut out and Jared Cousins came in on the blind side to fire in leaving Tasker little opportunity to save. A good effort by Gary Thorne was not too far away before William Green snapped up Andover’s consolation.Streeter delayed as he pondered a clearance and Green smartly whipped the ball away to score into the unguarded net.