2 goals from centre forward Sam Cant saw Vics move 7 points away from the Wessex Division 1 drop zone by seeing off Ringwood Town on Tuesday evening.
Vics included a familiar face in their line-up: former captain Ryan Gregory. New signing Josh Neale (from Cowes Sports) was given his 1st full start. Henry West was absent from the team as he has rejoined Cowes, and Liam Newbold was injured.
The game began calamitously for Vics as Coner Lyon was forced off the pitch injured in the 5th minute to be replaced by the very able Ben Holdsworth. Vics applied plenty of pressure early in the game with Sam Cant missing a sitter in the 8th minute.
Ringwood took a surprise lead in the 12th minute when Ethan Duell-Merritt kneed a cross past Alex Ram at the far post (0-1).
Vics then mounted a series of attacks with plenty of clear chances but lacking a cutting edge in the final third of the field.
In the 18th minute, Harrison Yates had a shot from the middle-of-the-penalty area stopped by the Ringwood keeper’s legs. In the 27th minute, Charlie Marsek saw his effort blocked by a defender. 3 minutes later, Josh Neale hoofed the ball over the crossbar with just the keeper to beat.
The breakthrough finally came shortly after the half hour mark when Sam Cant scored a poacher’s goal after the Ringwood keeper had spilled the ball (1-1).
Vics continued to pepper the visitors’ goal with shots. In the 36th minute, Ben Holdsworth forced a high catch from the overworked Ringwood keeper. 2 minutes later the keeper was again in action, stretching full length to keep out a powerful strike from Sam Cant.
The East Cowes side took the lead 5 minutes from the half time break – Sam Cant knocking the ball into the opposition net from 5 yards from a corner (2-1).
A further chance fell for Vics 3 minutes later – Ryan Gregory seeing his close-range effort parried by the keeper.
However, the home side had keeper Alex Ram to thank for preserving Vics’ lead to the half time whistle when he pulled off a wonder save at full stretch to force the ball onto the left post.
Half time: East Cowes Vics 2-1 Ringwood Town
Vics’ 1st half display demonstrated the progress the team has made under Alex Smith, putting on an entertaining display of free-flowing football for the 116 spectators present at Beatrice Avenue.
However, Vics failed to maintain the high intensity levels of their confident 1st half performance in the 2nd half.
Sam Cant came close to getting his hat trick when he dispossessed a Ringwood defender 5 minutes from full time but failed to beat the Ringwood keeper in the subsequent 1-on-1 scoring opportunity, in what was Vics’ only clear scoring opportunity of the half.
Full time: East Cowes Vics 2-1 Ringwood Town
East Cowes Vics: Ram, Snow, Woodford, Gregory, Chase, Taylor, Marsek (Holdsworth), Lyon, Cant, Neale (Parsons), Yates (Flux) Subs: McNaney, Wragg
Wessex Division 1 table below:
Tonight (Wednesday), in further Wessex League Division 1 action, Newport travel to Fleetlands. A win would take the Port to within 1 point of leaders Andover New Street, who beat Amesbury 0-4 on Tuesday evening.
UPDATE: Tonight’s game between Fleetlands and Newport has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
