Prolific striker Dan Vale scored 4 goals for the Romans in a comprehensive 6-2 victory against 1st Division newcomers Niton at Vicarage Lane on Wednesday night.
Brading have had an uncomfortable start to the season, losing most of the side that won the Hampshire Intermediate Cup in June. Aaron Burford, Josh Younie and Jordan Browne have signed for Newport; Maca Barnes and Harris Payne have joined Wootton and Ollie Wilson is now playing for W&B. The Romans have made 2 useful signings though: Blare Burns from Vectis and Lewis Biston from Sandown.
Vectis are largely unchanged from the team that achieved promotion from Division 2 last season. However, Brad Young has departed to Shanklin and Jared Cousins is dual signed with Newport.
Niton began the 1st half brightly with Jared Cousins probing the Romans’ defence with some powerful runs. However, the Niton defence was punished in Brading’s 1st attack of the game when Dan Vale sent a low shot from the left of the area (1-0).
2 minutes later, the home side had doubled their lead when Brading centre forward Vale headed a near post cross into the the right corner of the Niton goal (2-0).
In the 38th minute, Barry Calvert sent a low cross from the right for Vale to knock the ball into the net from 5 yards to complete an early hat trick (3-0).
A minute later, Vale was the provider when he sent a low cross from the left for Aaron Bennett to slot the ball into the net from close range (4-0).
HT: Brading Town 4-0 Niton
Having been given a first half lesson in clinical finishing by the home side, Niton came out after the break determined to make up the 4-goal deficit. Immediately after the half time break, Connor Plenty sent a near post ball past Brading goalkeeper, Ben Gearing, which bounced off the post and into the net (4-1).
In the 53rd minute, Niton centre forward, Jack Bardsdale scored the goal-of-the-game (or possibly the season) sending a magnificent 30-yard scissor kick past an outstretched Ben Gearing and into the top right corner of the Brading goal (4-2).
But hopes of an unlikely Niton comeback were dashed 2 minutes later when Lewis Bishton poached a ball that had been spilled by Niton goalkeeper, Ben McCloghlin (5-2)
Controversy followed in the 75th minute when Tom Brownrigg appeared to have bundled the ball over the line in a goalmouth scramble, but referee, Ali Taylor, failed to award the goal despite vociferous protests from the Niton bench. The ball was then cleared up the pitch for Dan Vale to make a powerful run and blast the ball past McCloughlin in the Niton goal (6-2).
FT: Brading Town 6-2 Niton
Brading Town: Gearing, Collins, Burns, Oatley, Connor, Hitchcox, Calvert, Treagus, Vale, Bishton, Bennett Subs: Shaw, Yates
Niton: McCloghlin, H. Plenty, Phillipson, Cass, Evans, Sheerin, Milsome, Cousins, Bardsdale, Brownrigg, Blythe Subs: C. Plenty, Sibley, Chessell
Brading now lie in 3rd place in Division 1 with 4 points from 2 games. Niton are in 12th place and are still seeking their 1st point of the season.
After the game, Brading manager, Steve Lawton, said:
“It’s going to be a tough season for us having lost 9 players from our cup winning side. We played kamikaze football, which is good for the spectator but not so good for the ticker. Dan Vale was outstanding.”
Niton manager, Darren Plenty, said:
“We were abysmal defensively in the 1st half. We are not used to the pace of Division 1.”
Shanklin lead Division 1 with 6 points from 2 games after beating Oakfield in front of a large crowd at the County Ground on Tuesday evening. Nick Vyse was Shanklin’s scorer.
Cowes Sports Reserves currently lie in 2nd place after beating Northwood St Johns 1-6. The scorers for the Yachtsmen were: Connor Furmidge (4), Tom Ashley and Max Coshell. Jordan Whittle scored for the home side with a 25-yard strike.
Osborne Coburg currently lead Division 2 on goal difference with 6 points from 2 games after beating High Park 2-3. Pan—who beat Newchurch 0-6—lie in 2nd position in the table. Newcomers East Cowes Vics reserves earned their first points of the season by beating bottom club Seaview 6-0 at Beatrice Avenue.
The East Cowes Vics first team have also gained their first point of the season after drawing 4-4 at Fawley. Jimmy Burton scored a hat-trick for Vics, and Toby Snow netted the other goal for the Island side.
Results for Tuesday 17th August:
Wessex Premier: Cowes Sports 1-1 Hamble
Wessex League 1: Totton & Eling 1-5 Newport IW
Harwoods Renault Saturday League Division 1: Binstead & COB 2-1 Sandown & Lake; Northwood St Johns 1-6 Cowes Sports Reserves; Shanklin 1-0 Oakfield
Division 2: Carisbrooke Utd 3-0 ECS; Vics 6-0 Seaview; High Park 2-3 Osborne Coburg; Newchurch 0-6 Pan; Newport Reserves A-W Adgestone; Ventnor 3-3 Wootton; Yarmouth & Calbourne 9-0 Wroxall
Results for Wednesday 18th August:
Wessex League 1: Fawley 4-4 East Cowes Vics
Harwoods Renault Saturday League Division 1: Bembridge 1-2 Vectis; West Wight 2-1 Ryde Saints; Brading Town 6-2 Niton
Results courtesy of the Isle of Wight DFA
Fixtures for Saturday 21st August will appear in Friday’s football preview.
It’s all part of the learning curve we are all knocked for “6” at one time or another