Whitecroft & Barton Sports have maintained their 100% record in the season to date and opened a 6-point gap at the top of Division 1 by emphatically beating Cowes Sports Reserves at Westwood Park.
W&B showed their ruthlessness in a 1st half in which they knocked 4 goals past their hosts. Alex Wright opened the scoring for the visitors with a tap in from close range (0-1). Then, after a poor Cowes free kick, Matt Evans played an early pass to Oli Wilson, who found himself clear on goal and took it round the advancing keeper to finish well from close to the goal line (0-2).
The 3rd goal came from a great team passing move, which eventually found Keelan Sainsbury on the right, whose pin-point diagonal cross was headed into the top corner of the goal by Oli Wilson (0-3). Finally, Alex Wright scored with another tap in from close range to give W&B a 4-goal advantage at half-time.
HT: Cowes Sports 0- 4 Whitecroft & Barton Sports
W&B continued from where they had left off in the 1st half by giving themselves a 6-goal advantage. Matt Evans converted a penalty after being brought down in the penalty area to atone for his missed penalty the previous Saturday (0-5). Then, Robbie Taylor knocked the Yachtsmen for six by touching the ball past the defender from a cross and coolly slotting past the keeper (0-6)
Cowes Sports then rallied and scored 2 late consolation goals through Josh O’ Neale (1-6) and Gareth Bricknell (2-6).
FT: Cowes Sports 2-6 Whitecroft & Barton Sports
Cowes Sports: Denness, Backshall, Coshell, Bryan, Brett, Wye, Adams, McFarlane, Holmes, Bricknell, Malcomson Subs: Jackson, Dempsey, Neale
W&B: Payne, K. Sainsbury, Norton, Ovnik, Bast, A Sainsbury, Yelland, Wright, Evans, Wilson, East
After the game, W&B manager Gareth True said:
“It was important to get the win after last week’s disappointment of going out of the Hampshire Cup. The team turned up at Westwood Park and got what they deserved.”
On behalf of Cowes Sports, stand-in player-manager Gareth Bricknell said:
“I was very disappointed in the 15-to-20-minute period just before half time. It was 0-0 up until then, and we were holding our own. So, to go in at half time 4-0 down was very frustrating. Credit to WAB for making it count when they were on top and being so ruthless.
“At half time, I made 3 changes at went for youth to freshen things up and demanded that we didn’t lose the 2nd half. The lads never gave in, and we were rewarded with 2 second half goals.
W&B’s victory leaves them top of division 1 with 42 points from 14 games, 6 points against the 2nd-placed club Shanklin, who they play at fortress Sandy Lane next Saturday. Cowes Sports Reserves now lie in 6th place with 20 points from their 15 games.
In the Isle of Wight Senior (Gold) Cup…
Bembridge 1-1 Brading Town (Brading won 5-4 on penalties)
Brading dominated the 1st half and came close to scoring with an Aaron Bennett header that hit the crossbar. The Romans took the lead through a bizarre own goal from a Brading defender (0-1). Bembridge equalized shortly before half time when Gary Hills took advantage of a long throw to score from close range (1-1).
Bembridge then dominated the 2nd half but found themselves unable to score because of some resolute defending by the Romans and two spectacular saves from Brading keeper Ben Gearing.
The winning penalty for Brading was scored by Aaron Bennett
Shanklin 4-1 Binstead & COB
Shanklin dominated their opponents at the County Ground and were limited to 4 goals by an outstanding display by the Binstead keeper. The scorers for Shanklin were Nick Vyse (X2), Cory Sanderson and George Carter-Knight. Tom Grandvoinet replied with a late consolation goal for Binstead.
The Gold Cup tie between Ryde Saints and Oakfield was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch after severe flooding at Smallbrook. West Wight have already reached the quarter finals of the competition after beating Sandown 1-2 last Saturday thanks to goals from Jack Butler and Cameron Ring.
In the Memorial Cup…
Pan Community 3-2 East Cowes Vics Reserves
Pan went 0-1 down after 5 mins when a pass from Alex Harvey found Charlie Southcott on the right-hand side of the area for him to bury his shot past Joe Williams. However, Pan equalised not long after with a goal from Robbie Shepherd to leave the score level at half time
Pan re-took the lead in the 2nd half from a Josh Gwilliam penalty only for Vics to equalise through a Matt Walter header with 15 minutes to go. With 5 mins left, Robbie Shepherd bundled the ball over the line to score the winning goal and put Pan into the Memorial Cup semi-final.
Isle of Wight results for Saturday 22nd January 2022
Harwoods Dacia Isle of Wight Senior Cup 2nd Round: Bembridge 1-1 Brading Town (Brading won 5-4 on penalties); Ryde Saints P-P Oakfield; Shanklin 4-1 Binstead & COB
The Andy Butler Sports Ground Specialist Isle of Wight Memorial Cup 2nd Round: Pan Community 3-2 East Cowes Vics Reserves
The Unison IOW Junior B Cup 1st Round: Carisbrooke United Reserves 0-6 East Cowes Sports Reserves; Yarmouth & Calbourne Reserves P-P AFC Wootton Reserves
Harwoods Renault IOW Saturday League Division 1: Cowes Sports Reserves 2-6 Whitecroft & Barton; Sandown & Lake 5-1 Niton Community; Vectis 0-0 West Wight; No Fixture: Northwood St Johns
Harwoods Renault IOW Saturday League Division 2: East Cowes Sports P-P High Park; Newchurch 0-4 AFC Wootton; Osborne Coburg 6-2 Newport Reserves; Seaview 1-4 Yarmouth & Calbourne; Ventnor P-P Adgestone; Wroxall 1-14 Carisbrooke United
Harwoods Renault IOW Saturday League Combination Division 1: Binstead & COB 8-0 Ryde Saints; Northwood St Johns 3-1 Brading Town; Oakfield 4-1 Sandown & Lake; Osborne Coburg 3-2 Shanklin; Whitecroft & Barton Sports 3-0 Bembridge; No Fixture: West Wight
