AFC WOOTTON SADLY FOLD AFTER PROMOTION TO HARWOODS DIVISION 1

AFC Wootton have announced their club will disband before kicking a ball in the 2024/25 season. Wootton were unable to raise a side for their season’s opener against Vectis last Saturday and were unable to fulfil their fixture against Shanklin this Saturday. This leaves Harwoods Division 1 with 11 teams, with each team now playing a total of 20 league games. Last season, Wootton achieved promotion to Harwoods Division 1 as well as reaching the final of the Junior A Cup. The club have said (via their Facebook page):

“It is with great sadness that we inform you that the club has unfortunately folded. “This decision has been made due to a lack of available players and the increase in costs “We would like to thank every single person who has pulled on a shirt for us, all those who have helped the club over the years and to every sponsor who has helped us. “So many people have given their precious time to this club and we are heartbroken that this has happened. We want to wish all those clubs still going all the best for this season and a thank you to them for all the battles.”

Wootton manager Dan Partridge has said:

“To everyone who I’ve met, managed and played against while at Wootton, thank you. “I’m absolutely gutted this has happened to my club and I’m sorry it has. It’s been an absolute pleasure.”

In Harwoods Division 1…

Vectis 3-3 Northwood SJ Vectis and Northwood St Johns earned their first points of the 2024/25 football season in an entertaining Cowes derby at Cowes Enterprise College. Mark Goodwin and Jamie Barrett were on target for Vectis, who were also gifted an own goal by their opponents. Leigh McKenzie scored a brace for Northwood with the remaining goal coming courtesy of Tom Sleight.

Vectis were disappointed not to take all 3 points, with manager Reece Biedler sating after the game:

“Firstly, credit to Northwood who were well worth their point; they had a game plan and stuck to it. “We’ve had an inconsistent pre season and that continued today. Having no centre halves and really poor availability affected us. “That being said, we should have had enough out there to get all 3 points. It just wasn’t good enough, and we need to improve a lot if we are going to kick on this season.”

Northwood Reserves manager Andy Simpson (who was deputising for manager John Cook) said:

“On balance, it was an excellent and a hard earned point. Everyone put in a massive performance.”

Brading Town 3-1 Cowes Sports Reserves The Romans top Harwoods Division 1 on goal difference from W&B after 2 games by beating Cowes Sports Reserves at Vicarage Lane thanks to a brace from Lewis Parsons and a further strike from Finn Smith. Bryn Turner said on behalf of Brading:

“A really good overall performance. Another brilliant result, another 3 points. Another 2 goals from our new goal machine Lewis⁩ and a goal from Finn Smith⁩. “Great start to the season, but this Tuesday at home v West Wight is the real test. It’s a massive game, a game that sets intention and a marker. We will need everyone to be sharp, switched on and bang up for it.”

Bembridge 0-2 W&B

Champions W&B have maintained their 100% record in Harwoods Division 1 by overcoming Bembridge at Steyne Park thanks to strikes from Harry Taylor and Sam Yelland. After the game, losing manager Justin Malin said:

“It was a really good game of football, that we can take a lot of credit from. First half especially, we played really well and were very unlucky to go in behind. “A wonder goal from near the halfway line gave W&B the lead and a top save from their keeper kept the scores level. 2nd half, Whitecroft did improve and were more dangerous making it 2-0 early on. The game flattened out a bit, we put them under some pressure last 15 but their defence held strong. “We played some great football at times, and nice to see 5 teenagers playing, including 3 16 year olds.”

Ventnor 5-1 Binstead & COB Captain and man-of-the-match Emerson Tattersall scored a hat trick with Charlie Urry and Liam Harper chipping in with a goal apiece as Ventnor demolished Binstead at Watcombe Bottom. After the game, Ventnor manager Gary Gee said:

“Good 3 points today with a 5-1 win, especially after going a goal down in 5 minutes and having most lads recovering from attending a funeral yesterday. They dug deep and showed a lot of character to get the win. “We take things for granted, we have banter and assume all is well, but was a tough day for those lads yesterday, and I am proud of each every one of them.”

Isle of Wight football results for Saturday 17th August

Harwoods Division 1 Bembridge 0-2 W & B Sports Brading Town 3-1 Cowes Sports Reserves Shanklin H/W AFC Wootton Vectis 3-3 Northwood SJ Ventnor 5-1 Binstead & COB Combination 1 Bembridge Reserves 2-5 West Wight Reserves Binstead & COB Reserves 1-5 W & B Sports Reserves East Cowes Sports Reserves 5-2 High Park Reserves Osborne Coburg Reserves 0-1 Shanklin Reserves