Man-of-the-match Jordan ChapmanEast Cowes Vics ended a sorry run of 3 successive defeats by scoring 6 goals against Totton & Eling at Beatrice Avenue on Tuesday evening. However, the Millers only arrived at Beatrice Avenue 15 minutes before kick off with 9 men – including the manager, an analyst and a novice playing his first-ever game of adult competitive football. Totton & Eling had played the previous day and suffered 3 injuries. By contrast, Vics put out a full complement of players, including 5 more-than-capable substitutes warming the bench. Many of the spectators were predicting a cricket score at kick-off. However, a 9-man Millers’ defence and some unorthodox but effective goalkeeping from Nate Taylor – plus some profligate finishing from the home side – prevented Vics from chalking up a double-digit win. It took Vics just over half an hour to finally breach the stubborn Totton & Eling defensive line and some heroic goalkeeper BY Taylor after peppering the away side’s goal with countless shots and winning innumerable corners. Jake Wright Jake Wright opened the scoring in the 31st minute by displaying some great control on the edge of the penalty area before placing the ball past Taylor (1-0). 6 minutes later, Jordan Chapman added a 2nd for the home side with a low shot from the edge of the penalty area (2-0). Jake Wright then bagged his brace with the final kick of the 1st half by battling his way past several defenders before putting the ball into the Millers’ net (3-0). Aedan CoodeHalf time: East Cowes Vics 3-0 Totton & Eling It took a further 20 minutes – and a succession of missed chances – before Vics added to their goal tally in the 2nd half when substitute Charlie Hart converted a Brad Young pass from the middle of the penalty area (4-0). 3 minutes later, Jake Wright bagged his hat trick with a cool strike from just inside the 16-yard area (5-0). The final goal came 4 minutes from the full time whistle through a Jacob Reynolds strike (6-0). Full time: East Cowes Vics 6-0 Totton & ElingEast Cowes Vics: Ram, Snow, Yates, Newbold, Chase (c), Chapman, Nash, Wright, Conway, Coode, Neale Subs (all used): Kirby, Hart, Young, Reynolds, Marsek Vics remain 5th on goal difference ahead of 6th-placed Cove, who have a game in hand over the East Cowes side. Tomorrow (Thursday), Vics face Brading Town in the quarter final of the Isle of Wight Gold Cup with kick-off at 19:45.
Fawley AFC 0-1 Newport IW In the other game to be played in Wessex Division 1 on Tuesday evening, Newport beat won on their travels to Fawley with Lennon Shepherd scoring the only goal of the game.
In Isle of Wight Division 1…
West Wight 3-2 Brading Town A brace from Gareth Bricknell and a further goal from Ash Brett saw 2nd-placed West Wight maintain their title challenge by overcoming Brading at Camp Road by the best of 5 goals. Whitecroft & Barton Sports 7-2 Ventnor Unbeaten leaders W&B saw off Ventnor at Sandy Lane thanks to braces from Matt Evans and Sam Cant and further strikes from Luke Lambert, Ollie Frost and Josh Appell. Harry Mulholland bagged both the goals for the away side. Whitecroft & Barton remain 5 points ahead of West Wight with 6 games of the season remaining.
