Match report: Ringwood Town FC and Newport (IoW) FC both saw their Wessex League Division One promotion play-off hopes likely slip beyond reach after a 2-2 draw

Both sides started the match with promotion play-off ambitions, but a stalemate on Saturday left both sides needing a near-miraculous set of results from the sides above to achieve their goals.

Ji Nash put the Isle of Wight hosts in the lead, but Timo Gleed and Pat Correia put Ringwood in charge until a 70th-minute leveller from Macauley Watterson sealed a point for each side.

“A tight game between two teams who are locked in the table with neither quite at full strength”, said Ringwood Town boss Fran Mathers. “To come back from a goal down and then take the lead was brilliant, but to then to give them another soft goal pretty much summed up our season.

“Another frustrating draw for us, which would otherwise be a decent point on the road. It’s sad that the play-offs look beyond us now but you never know in football, sometimes...”

Both sides came into the match missing key personnel, and the contest soon turned into a war of attrition. However, no one can accuse either side of lacking commitment.

With just eight minutes played, Wessex League veteran Nash continued his excellent goal-scoring form, lobbing the onrushing Ross Williams to score his seventh goal in four games.

Nash hit the crossbar moments later but was far from one-way traffic. Ringwood looked as if they could score at any moment, with their constant attacks causing panic in the Newport defence.

With the half-time whistle moments away, the visitors finally got the goal they deserved when Gleed found some space at a corner, heading beyond Leon Pitman.

Soon after the restart, Ringwood flipped the script when Correira beat Pitman at his near post with an excellent finish that left the keeper with no chance.

The final half-hour escalated dramatically with rising frustration and pressure among players and fans alike. The Ringwood Town bench received two yellow cards, and top scorer Lee Vint was sent to the sin bin. Newport also faced consequences, with George Holbrook shown a yellow card for a cynical foul.

With 10 minutes left, Newport captain Watterson was in the right place to head home a pinpoint corner to ensure his side had the final say of the afternoon.

Ringwood had a final opportunity to win the match, but Pitman reacted, tipping the fierce effort over the bar. The shot-stopper would have struggled to get there in time if the effort had gone elsewhere.

While it likely marks the end of play-off aspirations for Ringwood Town, they will try and sign off with a win at home against Clanfield on Saturday while hoping for some good fortune.

Ringwood Town: R. Williams, B. Bradwell, C. Lister, J. Ridland, T. Hopper, H. Dathan, P. Correia, M. Steer, L. Vint, L. Pothas, T. Gleed. Subs: C. Whitelaw, L. Cleary, H. Woodward, W. Laybo.