5th-placed Brading Town secured a narrow but comfortable victory over 10th-placed Binstead in a low-scoring game of few chances, played on a difficult pitch in very windy conditions.
Tuesday evening’s game was notable for the appearance of Newport centre-forward Jordan Browne in the unfamiliar position of centre back.
Brading Town kicked off with the wind in their favour and set up camp in their opponents’ half, dominating possession and creating the lion’s share of first half chances. However, the Roman’s were thwarted by the strong wind, which resulted in many passes being overhit, and a fine performance by Binstead stand-in keeper, Keiron Williams.
Williams twice blocked strong shots by Brading’s Dan Vale. However, Williams was only able to parry the second effort with a superb one-handed save that inched past his left post.
The resulting corner was taken by Harris Payne. The ball passed just over Williams’ fingertips and fell to Luke Hitchcox at the far post, who tapped in from 5 yards in the 35th minute.
HT: Binstead & COB 0-1 Brading Town
Binstead began the second half with the strong wind behind them and came close to scoring directly from the kick-off in which Harrison Taylor attempted a direct shot on goal which inched just over the Brading Town crossbar. However, that was the closest the home side came to finding an equalizer.
Jordan Browne was excellent at neutralizing the attacking threat of Binstead’s former Newport and Cowes centre-forward, Jarred Wetherick, who never looked likely to find an equalizing goal.
As the match petered to a close, the Romans appeared to pose the greater attacking threat and missed a few scoring opportunities but were unable to add to their single goal lead.
FT: Binstead & COB 0-1 Brading Town
After the game, Brading Town boss, Steve Lawton, said:
“I was really pleased with the three points and our performance on a difficult pitch. We were short of a centre half and I was impressed with the way Jordan Browne dealt with Jared, who can be a handful at times.”
Brading Town boss, James Lawton, said:
“It was a scrappy game in which the better side won. We were lacking the finishing touch in the final third of the field. I thought our keeper, Keiron Williams, was our best player.”
In the most important game to affect the top of Island League 1, champions Whitecroft & Barton demolished bottom side Carisbrooke United 0-6 at Clatterford Road. The scorers for W&B were Josh Appell (2), Nathan Martin, Michael McEnery, Alex Wright and Harry Ovnik.
W&B now head Island League 1 with 48 points from 18 games, 8 points ahead of 2nd-placed Shanklin, who have 2 games in hand on the league leaders.
On Saturday (8th May), Shanklin will have the opportunity to claw back some of the points deficit when they visit near neighbours Sandown, while W&B are without a game.
In Division 2, leaders Oakfield had an emphatic 1-8 victory away to Newchurch. The scorers for Oakfield were M Barrow (3), E Lomas (2), J Keetch, S Pearce and R Gee.
Oakfield now lead Division 2, with 51 points from their 18 games, 6 points ahead of Niton who have 45 points from their 16 games.
Results for Tuesday 4th May:
Harwoods Renault League Division 1: Bembridge 6-3 Ryde Saints; Binstead & COB 0-1 Brading Town; Carisbrooke United 0-6 Whitecroft & Barton Sports; Cowes Sports Reserves 2-1 Sandown; East Cowes Sports 3-4 Northwood St Johns
Harwoods Renault League Division 2: Adgestone 0-6 Niton Community; Newchurch 1-8 Oakfield; Seaview 1-6 Pan Sports; Yarmouth & Calbourne 3-0 Wroxall
