Newport (IoW) 3, Alton Town 0

ALTON travelled to the Isle of Wight on Saturday to play the team four points behind them and immediately below them in the table.

The match was seen as a six-pointer and a must-win game for the Brewers with the top four beginning to pull away from the chasing pack.

But it wasn’t to be as Alton’s promotion hopes were dented further.

The first serious attempt on goal came from the home side when Connor Kelly, who spotted Brewers goalkeeper Justin Courtnage off his line, attempted an ambitious 30-yard lob that flew over the crossbar.

The Port then had a lucky escape at the other end in the 19th minute when Alton forward George Bowerman dispatched a thunderous strike from the middle of the penalty area that cannoned off the right post and flew across the face of the goal to safety.

The Brewers had started confidently and had the greater share of possession for most of the rest of the first half as Newport were forced into conceding a long succession of corners, but Alton were unable to capitalise.

The Brewers were controlling the game, but mistimed passes meant they lacked the necessary cutting edge in the final third.

And The Port duly took the lead against the run of play four minutes from half time.

Kelly floated a long free kick into the Brewers penalty area which was headed back across goal by Scott Sampson. Jordan Browne got his head to the loose ball which skidded into the net off the post.

The Port could count themselves perhaps a little fortunate to take a lead into the half-time break but the home strikers had proven to be the more clinical.

The Brewers came close to equalising in the 49th minute when centre forward Louis Russell had a powerful shot well saved down low by Gary Streeter in the Newport goal.

And The Port demonstrated their ability to deal decisively with chances that fell their way when, in the 51st minute, visiting keeper Courtnage failed to hold a Kelly corner and Browne controlled the loose ball, turned and blasted the ball into the back of the net from eight yards to double the lead.

Provider Kelly then turned scorer. Receiving the ball out on the right wing 25 yards from goal, he turned inside the defender onto his favoured left foot and unleashed an audacious drive that arrowed under the bar, inside the post into the top corner.

Alton continued to press in a desperate bid to try to get back into the game, with Luke Perkins hitting the woodwork in the 65th minute.

At the other end, more drama ensued in the 69th minute when Jared Cousins was played in and skilfully rounded Courtnage, only for the Alton keeper to make contact and force him to lose his balance and fall just inside the box. Referee George Redford had little option other than to award a penalty to the Port but also brandished a red card to Courtnage.

With no substitute goalkeeper on the bench, Brewers boss Kev Adair went in goal – but he wasn’t called into action as Kelly blasted the spot kick high over the crossbar.

But Adair was needed moments later as he pulled off a spectacular save to deny Browne his hat-trick.

And the game ended on a sour note for Newport as Spike Pearce was sent off for throwing a punch.

On Saturday, Alton face a tough trip to in-form Andover New Street, who have moved up to second place in Wessex Division One.

Alton Town: Courtnage, Phillips, M Graham, O Graham, Wright, Evans, Benham, Green, Russell, Bowerman, Perkins. Subs: Black, Adair, Fowler, Knight.

* Two own goals and a late strike from Liam Knight eased Alton Town into the semi-finals of the Aldershot Senior Cup with a 3-1 win at Combined Counties League side Ash United at the Shawfield Stadium on Tuesday night.