Oakfield Reserves have won the Harwoods Combination 2 Championship and achieved promotion by beating local rivals High Park at Slade Road last night (Wednesday).
Oakfield 1st team have already been promoted to Isle of Wight Division 1.
This is a remarkable achievement for a club that only returned to Island football this season after disbanding 2 years ago.
Scott Parker opened the scoring for High Park shortly after kick off with a flick on header (0-1).
Man-of-the-match Josh Parsons equalised for the Oakers in the 10th minute with a tap in after the ball had bounced off the crossbar (1-1).
Parsons then bagged his brace after the ball was won off a High Park defender seconds after the restart (2-1).
Charlie Broadbent scored the goal-of-the-game 2 minutes from the half time break with a 25-yard strike into the roof of the net (3-1).
Half time: Oakfield Reserves 3-1 High Park A
Josh Parsons hit his hat trick in 52nd minute by dispatching a ball from the edge of the penalty area into the far corner of the goal (4-1).
KJ Young pulled a goal back for High Park in the 70th minute from close range after a goalmouth scramble (4-2).
The Oakers preserved their 2-goal advantage for the last 20 minutes to win the match, promotion and the Combination 2 Championship.
Full time: Oakfield Reserves 4-2 High Park A
Oakfield Reserves: Follows, Preston, May, Mann, T. Larbalestier, Watterson, Broadbent, Woodford, Youngson, Parsons, J. Larbalestier Subs: Bennett, Irvine, Bennett
High Park A: Hartnell, Young, Wheeler, Hope, Mulan, Barton, Bates, Parker, Robjant, Galloway, Harrison Subs: Robertson, Holdencroft, Pyle
After the game, winning manager Andy Bennett commented:
“It was a nervous opening 10 minutes and a late scare. But we didn’t drop our heads and did enough to win.”
Oakfield Firsts now have the opportunity to win a further trophy for the club when they take on West Wight Reserves in the final of the Junior A Cup at Beatrice Avenue on 7th May.
In other games…
West Wight 3-1 Shanklin
Jordan Flynn bagged a brace and Zak Harris was also on the scoresheet as West Wight beat Shanklin at Camp Road on Tuesday evening. Tom Ashley was the Shanklin scorer. The result means Brading finish 3rd in Harwoods Division 1, West Wight 4th and Shanklin 5th.
Whitecroft & Barton Sports 2-2 Bembridge
2nd-from-bottom Bembridge held champions W&B to a draw courtesy of a brace from Kudzi Mazambara. Sam Yelland and Fin Kalaker were on target for W&B.
