Saturday 26th September 2026, Kick-off 15.00
Wessex League Division One
WightFibre Park, Newport
Admission: £6.00
Programme: £2.00 (sold out)
Attendance: 453
A match report can be read by clicking here, also copied and pasted below
Newport honour Daz with hard-fought win over Frimley Green
A crowd of 453 saw goals from Macauley Watterson, Ji Nash and Connor Kelly secure a 3–1 victory on an emotional afternoon at WightFibre Park.
Newport welcomed Frimley Green to WightFibre Park in summer-like conditions, with a crowd of 453 treated to an excellent game. Both sides created chances and showed why they could be in the play-off picture come April.
Before kick-off, the crowd held a minute’s applause for club historian Pete Ranger and Newport’s record appearance holder, Daz Powell. Jordan Browne was also presented with a trophy to mark his recent 250th appearance for the club.
Newport started brightly. Chances fell to Connor Kelly, Ji Nash and Browne, but the ball would not find the net. At the back, Ollie Linington came in at left-back, allowing man of the match Mikey Thompsett to move into central defence in place of the injured George Holbrook.
The early pressure paid off in the 16th minute. Captain Macauley Watterson poked home from close range for his second goal in two games, having scored in similar fashion at Ash the previous week.
Frimley Green carried a threat of their own, particularly out wide. They drew level in the 38th minute when a well-worked corner reached Dan Bone, who glanced the ball in at the near post. The visitors continued to press before the break, and 1–1 was a fair reflection of an open first half.
The second half was an excellent advert for Wessex Division One. The game went from end to end, with both goalkeepers called upon to keep their sides in it. Joe Hancott had an outstanding game in front of Newport’s defence, supported by Keelan Walsh and Harri Catania, who had replaced the injured Brad Young after 25 minutes.
With little to separate the teams, Nash supplied the decisive moment in the 65th minute. His left-footed shot from the edge of the box took a deflection and beat the Frimley keeper to put Newport back in front.
Frimley responded well and remained dangerous from set pieces. A heavy collision involving Leon Pitman and a Frimley forward led to a lengthy stoppage, giving the visitors more time to find an equaliser.
Instead, Newport broke from a Frimley corner in added time and Kelly finished superbly in the 92nd minute. He immediately looked to the sky in honour of Daz.
It was a team performance Daz would have been proud of: grit, determination and a real will to win. When the final whistle came, Newport had three hard-earned points from a memorable afternoon at WightFibre Park.
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