Perennial Island League champions, Whitecroft & Barton, have returned to the top of Island League 1 after beating their closest rivals, Shanklin, at the County Ground on Tuesday night.
Earlier in the season, Shanklin had beaten the mighty W&B at their Sandy Lane fortress, the first home defeat for the champions in 6 years. However, in the return fixture, the already strong W&B side, bolstered by 3 signings from Newport, got their revenge in front of a 3-figure crowd.
W&B started the game very strongly with their first goal coming after 10 minutes through a Matt Evans header. Experienced Newport captain, Marty McDonough, then added a second from a corner, to give the away side a 2-goal lead at half time.
HT: Shanklin 0-2 Whitecroft & Barton Sports
Shanklin rallied in the second half to pull a goal back through an Iain Seabrook penalty shortly after half time (1-2). Flying full back, the very promising Ryan Hughes, then extended the W&B lead through a 25-yard strike in the 75th minute (1-3). Shanklin continued to battle gamely with Pete Wilson pulling a goal back for the home side through an 80th minute header (2-3). However, it was the former Newport striker, Charlie Urry, who had the final word in the game, lobbing over the keeper in the 87th minute to restore champions W&B to their usual spot at the top of Island League 1.
FT: Shanklin 0-2 Whitecroft & Barton Sports
Victory for W&B puts them on 33 points after 13 games played, 2 points ahead of Shanklin.
After the game, W&B manager, Steve Rayner, said:
“It was an excellent result. I think it was a good game between two good sides, but we deserved the win.”
3rd placed Brading Town, who trail W&B by 5 points but have a game in hand, secured a 3-0 walkover victory against Bembridge, who were unable to raise a team. The Romans now face W&B at Sandy Lane on Saturday in a must-win fixture for the Romans’ title ambitions.
In Island League Division 2, leaders Oakfield maintained their 100% record by winning 1-2 away at 3rd-placed Pan Sports, the goals being supplied from Ellis Lomas and William Dalimer.
Oakfield’s closest rivals, Niton, thrashed a young Newport A side 13-2. Oakfield currently lead Division 2 with 36 points from their 12 games. 2nd-placed Niton have 30 points from 11 games.
Results for Tuesday 13th April:
Division 1: Brading Town A-A Bembridge (3-0 W.O.); Cowes Sports Reserves A-A Ventnor (3-0 W.O.); Northwood St John 3-1 ECS; Sandown 0-0 Carisbrooke United; Shanklin 2-4 Whitecroft & Barton Sports; West Wight 1-2 Binstead & COB.
Division 2: Wootton 2-1 Adgestone; Niton Communty 13-2 Newport A; Osborne Coburg 1-3 Newchurch; Pan Sports 1-2 Oakfield; Wroxall 1-6 Seaview.
Signing mid season players from levels above, will only be detrimental to the league. We all know they’ll leave next year. That’s not a clubs natural progression it’s glory hunting.
A three figure crowd. Yet some clubs still aren’t allowed spectators. What is the thinking behind this ???