Whitecroft & Barton gave retiring manager Steve Rayner the send-off he deserved by beating Sandown 4-0 at Sandy Lane in their final game of the season on Saturday.
Earlier in the week, W&B had secured their 6th championship in succession without a ball being kicked after their 2nd-placed rivals, Shanklin, could only manage a draw at Bembridge.
Whitecroft & Barton began their game on the front foot with a goal by Newport captain, Marty McDonough, after just 4 minutes. Marty side-footed the ball into the back of the net from a seemingly offside position on the edge of the Sandown area after being put through by Harry Ovnik. (1-0)
McDonough, playing in the unusual position of centre-forward, continued to torment the Sandown defence, forcing a number of good saves from the overworked Sandown keeper, Alex Ram. In the 20th minute, the very promising Jake Wright had a shot parried by Ram, only for the ball to bounce off the crossbar and into the path of Jack East, who blasted the ball into the back of the net from 5 yards. (2-0)
W&B continued to pepper the Sandown goal with shots. Mc Donough came close to scoring a second in the 32nd minute, but had his effort tipped over the crossbar by Alex Ram.
HT: Whitecroft & Barton 2-0 Sandown
W&B continued to harass the Sandown defence in the second half. In the 50th minute, Aidan Sainsbury grazed the Sandown crossbar. Ten minutes later, McDonough sent a strong shot just over the Sandown crossbar. The home side’s 3rd goal finally came in the 78th minute, when flying full back Ryan Hughes picked up the ball on the edge of the Sandown area and side-footed a defender, before coolly dispatching the ball into the corner of the net to score the goal-of-the-game. (3-0)
Hughes, now playing as centre-forward, then had a 2nd goal disallowed for offside. The final word in the game went to Nathan Martin who tapped the ball into the back of the net from 5 yards after receiving a low cross from Jake Wright in the 89th minute. (4-0)
FT: Whitecroft & Barton 4-0 Sandown
After the match, Sandown manager, Barrie Wade, said:
“Congratulations to Steve on another successive league victory. We didn’t have a chance all game, However, my side did well, considering we had 6 under-18 players in the team.”
Not only did Whitecroft & Barton first team win Island League 1, but W&B reserves also won the Combination 1 title on goal difference without kicking a ball after 2nd-placed Northwood St Johns’ 1-6 victory over Sandown at the Fairway Sports Complex.
In other games in Island League 1, 2nd-placed Shanklin were held 3-3 by East Cowes Sports at the County Ground. The scorers for Shanklin were: Ji Nash, Callum Watkins and James Turner.
Bottom club Carisbrooke United ended their season in fighting spirit, beating Bembridge 2-3 at Steyne Park to record only their second win of the season.
Results for Saturday 29th May:
Harwoods Renault League Division 1: Bembridge 2-3 Carisbrooke United; Ryde Saints 3-2 Binstead & COB; Shanklin 3-3 East Cowes Sports; West Wight H-W Brading Town; Whitecroft & Barton Sports 4-0 Sandown
Harwoods Renault League Combination 1:Sandown 1-6 Northwood St Johns
Fixture for Monday 31st May:
Harwoods Renault League Division 1: Ryde Saints v West Wight
Fixture for Tuesday 1st June:
Harwoods Renault League Division 1: Vectis v Shanklin
