East Cowes Vics have fallen into deeper relegation difficulty in Wessex Division 1 after home defeat by Fleet Spurs – a side that had lost all their previous league games.
Vics welcomed back highly-rated goalkeeper Alex Ram and powerful centre forward Sam Cant. They were without defender Henry West, who was suspended.
The game began disastrously for Vics when Spurs’ Chis Farmaloe crossed to Ollie Manning, who gave the mainland side the lead in the 1st minute of the game (0-1).
The match was a scrappy contest played in difficult conditions. In the 34th minute Charlie Marsek broke through and attempted to chip the Spurs keeper. However, the ball got stuck in the mud and Toby Snow failed to finish the goalscoring opportunity.
Half time East Cowes Vics 0-1 Fleet Spurs
Vics hit the ground running in the 2nd half when Charlie Marsek latched on to a long through ball shortly after the half time interval before calmly beating Spurs keeper Jack Coleman in a 1-on-1 situation to put Vics on level terms (1-1).
However, Spurs restored their lead in the 54th minute when Ollie Manning secured his brace by converting a James Batchelor cross at the far post (1-2).
3 minutes later, it looked like game over for Vics when Spurs were awarded a penalty for handball. The referee then consulted his linesman Ben Orton, who ruled that the ball had hit the Vics player’s thigh rather than his hand.
Fleet Spurs’ co-manager Sam Hawkin was incensed by the linesman’s contribution to the decision and was red carded after a heated confrontation with Orton. However, despite being ordered away from the pitch, he continued to offer words of wisdom to his team from the front of the Vics stand for the remainder of the game.
Kade Woodford came close to equalizing for Vics in the 63rd minute, but his effort bounced harmlessly over the Spurs crossbar.
The match ended in with a dramatic finale. In the 89th minute, Vics were awarded a penalty for handball. Sam Cant hit the crossbar with his penalty strike. However, Fleet keeper Jack Coleman then made a remarkable double save, parrying further attempts on goal from Harrison Yates and Lewis Parsons.
Full time: East Cowes Vics 1-2 Fleet Spurs
East Cowes Vics: Ram, Walsh Woodford, Greenslade, Chase, Ashley, Snow, Lyon, Cant, H. Yates, Marsek Subs: Parsons, J. Yates, Taylor, Turner, Backshall
After the game, Vics manager Alex Smith said:
“The conditions were atrocious for both teams. Who can create quality on a boggy pitch?
“However, credit to Fleet Spurs. We were never good enough.”
Defeat leaves Vics in 18th place in Wessex Division 1, 7 points from safety outside the drop zone. The East Cowes side have now gone 20 games since their last victory.
Vics now have 2 potentially “winnable” games, 1st against 13th-placed Ringwood Town at Beatrice Avenue on Tuesday evening and then against 19th-placed Amesbury Town in Wiltshire on Saturday.
FOLLAND SPORTS 0-1 NEWPORT (IoW)
The Port saw off promotion rivals Folland Sports in Hamble.
The Port took a 1st half lead against the Planemakers through a shot from centre forward Jordan Browne (0-1).
Shortly after Browne scored, Joe Craig chipped the Folland keeper but the ball just failed to cross the goal line.
In the 2nd half, the Port had plenty of chances to extend their lead but failed to hit the back of the net. Connor Kelly had 2 attempts on goal blocked by the Folland keeper, and Josh Younie and Joe Craig both shot narrowly wide.
Newport (IoW): Pitman, Colson, Hancott, Reynolds, Oatley, Barron, Kelly, Boyd-Kerr, Browne, Crsig, Younie Subs: Chapman, Streeter (gk), Triggs, Grsndvoinet, Smith
The Port’s win leaves them in 4th spot in Wessex Division 1, 4 points behind leaders New Milton Town but with 5 games in hand.
STONEHAM 2-1 COWES SPORTS
In the Wessex Premier, the Yachtsmen performed well at 2nd-placed Stoneham and led for most of the game before conceding 2 late goals.
Cowes took the lead in the 35th minute when Aedan Coode played a through ball to Fin Phillips, who went round the keeper before knocking the ball into an open goal (0-1).
In the 53rd minute, Stoneham hit the upright with a shot from outside the penalty area.
5 minutes from full time, the Purples were awarded a soft penalty for handball, which was converted by Jim Orvis (1-1).
In the 90th minute, Liam Callaghan ensured all 3 points remained with the home side by scoring a last gasp goal (2-1).
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Dempsey, Mumford, Watson, West, Catania, Tatlor, Coode, Conway, McKie, Phillips Subs: C. Neale, Perrin, Ahmed, Wetherick, Laird
The Yachtsmen have now extended their winless run to 10 games. Defeat leaves the Island side in 17th place in the Wessex Premier table – 3 points above the drop zone.
On Tuesday evening, Cowes welcome league leaders Portchester to Westwood Park.
What a terrible result for Vics. They can’t win a match at home, meanwhile Port can’t stop winning away.
Vics are beginning to look doomed to go down.
Newport are doing very well, but with only one automatic promotion getting out of the division could be down to another play-off lottery. Not counting a division win out, but Andover New Street are just edging it at the moment.
Port are certainly playing the best football on the Island at the moment.
As for Cowes, it can’t be much fun for their punters see them struggle, but they should have just enough to avoid relegation.
How refreshing to hear from a real football fan on the island and not one of the thousands of goons that pretend to support one of the ‘big’ teams.
I am going to start to visit Brading Town for my football fix, as i have been homeless since they knocked down my second home….Upton Park RIP.
Good on you, they will appreciate your support.
Thank you. I’d also encourage everyone to get to a Wessex League game when the can. The WL is expensive to play in with cross-solent travel. Also when playing at home Island teams have to pay the 3 officials travel and expenses to the Isle of Wight as League rules say they can’t be from the Island! And yes also go to see Brading, they have a lovely little ground.
Nicely summarised, if Vics were relegated would they go into the Island league?
Thank you. No, between the Wessex League and the IOW Division 1 are two divisions of the Hampshire League.
Every game is away for “Port” isn`t it?
They sold their soul to the devil.
The same as West ham did.
Very sad.