Division 1 leaders West Wight preserved their unbeaten record with an extraordinary late equaliser against fellow unbeaten side Whitecroft & Barton Sports at Sandy Lane.
W&B came within 5 minutes of becoming the first side to beat West Wight in the league this season after taking the lead shortly before the interval and creating opportunities to extend their advantage.
It was a highly competitive but often scrappy encounter, with plenty of crunching tackles and neither side given much time on the ball. Much of the contest was fought in the air as the 2 teams battled for control, with clear-cut chances at a premium.
W&B produced one of the better openings on the half-hour mark when Sam Cant forced West Wight goalkeeper Gearing into a good save.
Cant went one better in the 44th minute. Aidan Sainsbury swung a free kick into the West Wight penalty area and Cant rose to head home, giving W&B the lead (1-0).
The home side continued to threaten after the break, with Cant again denied by Gearing as he went in search of his second goal. Theo Appell then had a great opportunity to double the advantage but sent his effort over the crossbar.
W&B did get the ball into the net for a second time through Harry Mulholland, only for the goal to be disallowed.
West Wight introduced Myles Taylor from the bench and the substitute helped change the complexion of the game as the league leaders began applying greater pressure.
West Wight’s pressure finally paid off in the 85th minute in remarkable circumstances. Taylor swung over a corner and Ash Brett rose highest to direct a header towards goal. Harry Taylor cleared the ball off the line, but it cannoned straight into Josh Daley’s face and flew into the top corner (1-1).
Full Time: Whitecroft & Barton Sports 1-1 West Wight
Whitecroft & Barton Sports: Cant, Dixon, Jackson, Kilroy, Linington, Lyon, Mulholland, Ovnik, Sainsbury, Sampson, Wright. Subs: Appell, Taylor, Yelland.
West Wight: Brett, Daley, Elliott, Gearing, Groom, Harris, Millar, Pilcher, Phillips, Thomas, Tyrell. Subs: Foreman, Taylor, Thomas.
The draw leaves West Wight top of Division 1 with 10 points from 4 games, while W&B remain unbeaten in 5th with 5 points from 3 matches.
IN OTHER GAMES…
Bembridge & Vectis 2-0 Northwood St Johns
Ethan Dicker and Louis Newsham were on target as Bembridge & Vectis saw off Northwood St Johns to claim their second win of the season. The victory takes Bembridge & Vectis up to 4th with 6 points from 4 games, while Northwood sit 6th with 4 points from 3.
Cowes Sports Reserves 2-3 Brading Town
Jake Keetch struck a 90th-minute winner as Cowes Sports Reserves were beaten by Brading Town in a 5-goal thriller. Aaron Bennett opened for Brading after 15 minutes before Keetch netted in the 42nd and again at the death, with Mumford and Long scoring for the Yachtsmen. Brading are 7th on 6 points, level with 3rd-placed Cowes.
Sandown & Lake 3-1 Oakfield
Temitope Adafin bagged a brace as Sandown & Lake claimed their first Division 1 victory of the season with a 3-1 win against Oakfield. Adafin struck in the 28th and 40th minutes before Dulan Moran added the hosts’ third after 71 minutes. The victory lifts Sandown & Lake off the bottom into 9th, with Oakfield dropping to 10th after 4 successive defeats.
DIVISION 2
Newchurch 3-1 East Cowes Vics Reserves
Newchurch struck twice inside the opening 12 minutes on their way to a win over East Cowes Vics Reserves at Watery Lane. Scott Parker opened the scoring after 4 minutes and Kirk Brogan quickly added a second before Matthew Ogden struck after 61 minutes. Martin Barrow replied for Vics. Newchurch are 4th with 6 points.
Niton 0-14 Newport Reserves
Niton were on the receiving end of the day’s biggest score as Newport Reserves ran out emphatic winners at Springhead. Robbie Shepherd scored 4, Daniel Pearson and Luca Burton both bagged hat-tricks, while Ryleigh Main, Jordi Shepherd, Ellis Brooks and Jaymee Smith completed the scoring. Unbeaten Newport remain 2nd with 10 points, 2 behind leaders Ryde Saints.
Osborne Coburg 2-7 Ryde Saints
Joshua Tombleson’s first-half hat-trick helped Ryde Saints maintain their 100% Division 2 record as Osborne Coburg were comprehensively beaten. Jay Larbalestier also struck before the break as Saints established a 1-4 advantage, before Jack Michelmore and an Alfie Bradley brace completed the scoring. Ryde remain top with maximum points from 4 games.
Seaview 0-6 ECS
Seaview were beaten by an ECS side who remain firmly among the Division 2 frontrunners. Mackinly Blacklock struck twice, with Antony Cowburn, Daniel Robjant, Gary Richardson and Nicholas Anstey also on target. Unbeaten ECS sit 3rd with 10 points from 4 games, level with Newport Reserves and 2 points behind leaders Ryde Saints.
Isle of Wight football results for Saturday 26th September
Division 1
Bembridge & Vectis 2-0 Northwood St Johns
Cowes Sports Reserves 2-3 Brading Town
Sandown & Lake 3-1 Oakfield
Whitecroft & Barton Sports 1-1 West Wight
Division 2
Newchurch 3-1 East Cowes Vics Reserves
Niton 0-14 Newport Reserves
Osborne Coburg 2-7 Ryde Saints
Seaview 0-6 ECS
Combination 1
Whitecroft & Barton Sports Reserves 3-1 West Wight Reserves
Bembridge & Vectis Reserves 1-3 Shanklin Reserves
ECS Reserves 5-0 Oakfield Reserves
Brading Town Reserves 9-1 Sandown & Lake Reserves
Combination 2
Brading Town A 0-1 Newchurch Reserves
Northwood St Johns Reserves 6-1 Osborne Coburg Reserves
Ryde Saints Reserves 0-10 Bembridge & Vectis A
West Wight A 3-2 Shanklin A
No mention of the awful, nasty, dirty display by some of the W&B players then? Including the sucker punch to one of the WW players resulting in a fractured cheekbone!
And on the same day IOW players stood silent for one of our greatest.
This was the match after. The IW DFA will be looking into it.