All 3 Wessex League Isle of Wight sides won on Saturday (19th August).
Newport (IoW) collected all 3 points – their 1st of the season to date – by blowing away Ash at Beatrice Avenue.
Ash United began the game brightly with Pitman forced to deflect a powerful near post effort past the upright in the 12th minute, following which captain McDonough’s outstretched boot deflected the ball just past the post in the 25th.
The shape of the game changed around the half hour mark when Josh Younie – who had been playing 200 yards up the road for High Park at GKN – came on as substitute for the Port.
5 minutes from the half time interval, Younie sent a cross-pitch ball to Joe Butcher, who took the ball past the Ash full back before crossing the ball to Jordan Browne. The Newport centre forward then deftly turned and buried the ball in the back of the net from the edge of the 6-yard box (1-0).
The Port were unlucky not to have been awarded a penalty at the end of the 1st half when the ball struck the arm of an Ash defender. The referee put the whistle in his mouth … but blew for half time rather than for a penalty.
Half time: Newport 1-0 Ash United
The Port increased their advantage to 2 goals in the 58th minute when Martin McDonough set up Joe Butcher to score from outside the penalty area by chipping the advancing Ash keeper (2-0).
10 minutes later, Ash had 2 opportunities to reduce the 2-goal deficit when one of their number was adjudged to have been brought down in the Port penalty area. The first spot kick was parried on the line by Pitman. The second was blasted over the crossbar.
The County Town club were playing by far the more fluid football in the 2nd half. In the 80th minute, Spike Pearce saw his header bounce off the upright.
The North Hampshire side pulled a goal back against the run of play 2 minutes from the full time whistle when Jack Melbourne sent a looping header over Port keeper Pitman (2-1).
It took the Port all of 12 seconds to regain their 2-goal advantage when – directly from the restart – the ball was played back to Josh Younie, who spotted the Ash keeper off his line and volleyed the ball over him and into the back of the net from 55 yards (3-1).
Full time: Newport IoW 3-1 Ash United
Newport IoW: Pitman, West, Page, Watterson, McDonough, Pearce, Oatley, Walsh (Younie), Browne, Myram (Bristow), Butcher Subs not used: Smith, Parsons
YACHTSMEN NET 3 TIMES TO TAKE ALL 3 POINTS AT WESTWOOD PARK
Cowes Sports scored 3 goals without reply to taste Wessex Premier victory for the first time in the 2023/24 season.
The Yachtsmen led by a single goal at half time through a 31st minute Jez Conway penalty (1-0).
After the interval, Fin Phillips worked some magic in the penalty area before tapping the ball past Christchurch keeper Dillon in the 70th minute (2-0).
10 minutes from full time, Dillon could only parry a goal attempt from Eli Ahmed, with the ball falling into the path of John McKie, who tapped the ball past the keeper to make victory certain for Cowes (3-0).
Full time: Cowes Sports 3-0 Christchurch
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Mumford, Watson, West, Oatley, Triggs, Cook, Colson, Conway, Carter-Knight, Phillips Subs: Ahmed, Orton, McKie, Barron, McFarlane
VICS VICTORIOUS FOR 3RD SUCCESSIVE GAME
East Cowes Vics have maintained their 100 percent record in Wessex Division 1 by winning away in the New Forest at Ringwood Town.
Charlie Marsek – who netted twice for Northwood St Johns midweek – opened the scoring for Vics in the 18th minute by poking in a corner that had rebounded off the upright (0-1).
5 minutes after the half time break, Josh Neale added to the East Cowes outfit’s lead by heading in a Toby Snow cross (0-2).
Neale then bagged his brace shortly after the hour mark (0-3). This was followed by 2 unfortunate red cards for Vics captain Callum Chase and combative midfielder Jacob Reynolds both for 2nd bookable offences.
10 minutes from full time, the New Forest side scored a consolation goal through Lee Vint (1-3). However, Vics survived the closing stages of the game with just 9 men to record their 3rd league victory in 3 games.
Full time: Ringwood Town 1-3 East Cowes Vics
Vics: Ram, Snow, H. Yates, Newbold, Chase, Taylor, Chapman, Boyd-Kerr, Marsek, Reynolds, Neale Subs: Mumford, Sanderson, Hart, Berry, Backshall
Vics’ win leaves the East Cowes side in 6th place in Wessex Division 1, 4 points behind leaders Hamworthy Recreation but with 2 games in hand.
East Cowes Vics Development won their first-ever Hants Combination game 2-0 today, at home to Clanfield. Sam Kirby and Jayden Yates were on the scoresheet for the development side.
Fantastic results for all 3 teams shows there are enough players on the IOW to sustain 3 clubs at Wessex League level.
Particularly pleased for Port who have overcome players leaving to rebuild, 2 narrow loses followed by a convincing win.
East Cowes have started well, can they sustain it? Cowes have a big squad, and the depth should mean they avoid a relegation battle this season. However, they have to keep all of the squad happy including some players who will get few games.
Season predictions? Cowes mid table or just above, East Cowes on edge of play offs, Newport probably mid table as they bring through some younger players.