East Cowes Victoria are just 90 minutes away from claiming a place in the Wessex Premier League after beating Alresford Town on the road in the semi finals of the playoffs last night (Wednesday).
The Victorians have never achieved promotion in the Wessex League, and this was the biggest game in the club’s recent history.
Alresford Town included 2 Step 3 Southern League players in their starting line up – Max Bustamente and Billie Busari – both of whom usually play for Sholing.
The 2 defences looked tight at the start of the first half, and chances were few for both sides. Vics keeper Alex Ram was first called into action in the 8th minute to save from Scott Hill. Vics came close on 10 minutes, with a run and shot from Josh Neale stopped by Magpie’s keeper Jon Webb.
The 2 sides worked hard for the remainder of the half without producing an end product. East Cowes Vics centre forward Scott Jones saw a strike from distance sail over the crossbar, and Billie Busari sent a shot wide for Alresford .
Half time: Alresford Town 0-0 East Cowes Victoria
Vics stepped on to the pitch in the 2nd half appearing to want to win the tie in 90 minutes of full time play.
Charlie Hart was unlucky for the away side on 50 minutes, and Harrison Yates had a powerful shot on goal punched clear on 54 minutes.
The Victorians were on top now and took a deserved lead on 62 minutes. A defence splitting pass from Aedan Coode caused mayhem in the Magpies’ back line, and the Alresford’s keeper’s attempt to clear the ball struck his own player, allowing Toby Snow to walk the ball into an empty net (0-1).
Alresford responded quickly and equalised in the 72nd minute when a corner not cleared by Vics was poked home by Craig Bryant (1-1).
Vics retook the lead in the 75th minute when an in-swinging corner met the head of Elliot Wheeler, who powered the ball past Webb (1-2).
The away side had a scare 2 minutes from the full time whistle when Sanchez McLean sent a powerful shot thundering against the crossbar and away to safety.
The Victorians survived 8 minutes of time added on to secure their place in the playoff final against Frimley Green on Saturday (3rd May).
Full time: Alresford Town 1-2 East Cowes Victoria
East Cowes Victoria: Ram, Snow, Yates, Newbold (c), Wheeler, Boyd-Kerr, Reynolds, Coode, Jones, Hart, J.Neale Subs: Sullivan, Mazambara, Bricknell, C. Neale, Law (gk) Man-of-the-match: Scott Jones
