East Cowes Vics were knocked out in the 2nd Qualifying Round by Fleetlands at the JA Dempsey Community Stadium this afternoon (Saturday).
The tie also marked a personal milestone for Josh Neale, who made his 150th appearance for Vics.
The home side had a major opportunity to take an early lead when Charlie Hart was bundled over inside the Fleetlands penalty area after 9 minutes, but the referee waved away the appeals.
Vics created the first real chance of the afternoon 7 minutes later, sending an effort over the crossbar. Fleetlands offered little threat in the opening stages but grew into the contest, with Gabriel Bridi punching clear from a Coptermen corner before Charlie Merritt fired narrowly wide shortly before the interval. Vics responded almost immediately with another effort that flew high over the bar.
Half Time: East Cowes Vics 0–0 Fleetlands
Vics suffered a setback soon after the interval when Liam Triggs was forced to leave the pitch through injury, with Caleb Neale replacing him for the 2nd half. Fleetlands began to ask more questions after the restart, although their first attempt on goal was comfortably dealt with by Bridi.
Raff Boyd-Kerr and Jordan Chapman replaced Gabe Wall and Caleb Dyer before Vics finally found a way through in the 66th minute. A corner resulted in a goalmouth scramble, with the ball bouncing off Ollie West’s back before striking captain Liam Newbold and finding the net (1–0), putting Vics within sight of the 1st Round Proper.
Fleetlands’ response was swift. Bridi denied Dougan in the 74th minute, but just 2 minutes later an unmarked Kelvin Robinson met a free kick at the near post and headed home (1–1), with the manner of the equaliser leaving the Vics bench fuming.
Will Bridi and Harrison Yates replaced Josh Neale and Charlie Hart as the clock ran down and the tie remained level into stoppage time. In the 92nd minute, Craig Kingswell struck for Fleetlands (1–2), completing the Coptermen’s late comeback and ending Vics’ hopes of reaching the 1st Round Proper.
Full Time: East Cowes Vics 1–2 Fleetlands
East Cowes Vics: G. Bridi, Snow, Newbold (c), West, Triggs, Hart, Wright, Dyer, Wall, J. Neale, Haward. Subs: C. Neale, Yates, Chapman, Boyd-Kerr, W. Bridi.
Fleetlands manager Jason Mann admitted after the game that Vics had been the better side for the opening hour. However, he believed Newbold’s goal had galvanised the Coptermen, who responded with 2 goals in the final 14 minutes before snatching the tie in stoppage time.
Vics joint manager Elliott Wheeler said:
“I’m gutted. There wasn’t a lot in the game. Fleetlands showed a lot more character than we did in the last 20 minutes.
“It was 2 very disappointing goals to concede. It was really naive from us in the final stages of the game.”
Alex Smith added:
“It was a game between 2 sides that produced very, very little. There was a significant lack of quality. We were dogged, but they were certainly dogged throughout.
“The team that concentrated, did the simple things and listened to their manager won the game. One team applied themselves properly and one didn’t. In a cup game, that’s enough to win it.
“Fleetlands deserved the win because we didn’t do the right things.”
