The under 18s welcome table topping Fareham Town to Wightfibre Park this Sunday afternoon knowing they were in for a tough game.

Fareham started the game in the ascendency but Newport took the lead when Tommy Turnbull Woodford crossed for Ollie O’Neill to score his second goal in two games.

Newport continue to battle hard throughout the half with the midfield of Morgan Ross, Milo Pike and Frankie Foster working tirelessly to put Fareham under pressure. Newport unfortunately lost Eddie Hiorns to injury and he was replaced by Ernie Oatley.

The tireless running of Woodford, O’Neill, Isaac Watts and Oakleigh McMahon kept Fareham’s defence on their toes, but it was Fareham who equalised through a free kick, placed around the side of the wall after a foul on the edge of the box.

Back came Newport and right before halftime Morgan Ross had a great chance to restore the lead but a defender just got there first.

The second half saw much of the same with Fareham still causing problems but 16-year-old centre back duo of Toby Brownrigg-Jones and Jack Kilby kept Fareham at bay, ably supported by skipper Dan Suckling and Oatley, and later Harry McCulloch.

As the game progressed Newport started to look dangerous on the break and it was no surprise when O’Neill got his second goal following a great through ball from Foster to give Newport the lead.

Fareham pushed forward but on the break Newport had another chance through Oatley, and later when Ben McCormack flicked on, O’Neill had a chance to complete his hat trick but was thwarted by the keeper.

Fareham had one last chance to equalise but it was blocked in the wall and that was it. A great result and another step forward for this team against a very good Fareham side.

Team. Humber, Suckling, Kilby, Brownrigg-Jones, Hiorns, Foster, Ross, Pike, Turnbull-Woodford, McMahon, O’Neill.
Subs, all used. Watts, McCormack, McCulloch, Oatley.