The Isle of Wight Hockey Club’s men’s teams were in fine goal scoring last weekend.
The Mens 2XI began another Saturday filled with hockey with an early push back away to Southampton Uni 5XI.
The Island took the lead in the first half when Stephen Woodford won the ball back high up the pitch, and linked up with Carl Joyce whose pass put Thomas Young through on goals where he slotted the ball home. Southampton came back strong and equalised just before the break. A stern half time team talk inspired the Island going into the second half with the youngsters finding their pacing in the game.
A mix of a solid defence line of Seb Foster, Stuart Allen Steven Holbrook and Toby Noyes alongside some crucial saves from keeper Nate Bower kept the Island in the game and it wasn’t long before they had won a short corner at the other end of the pitch, leading to a Thomas Young strike which was deflected past the keeper.
The Island continued to create chances, Richard Chistensen coming close while 1 on 1 with the keeper. The Island then put the game to bed with 5 minutes remaining, when a pin point pass from Joyce found Woodford at the back post, where he tucked it away. The game ended as a 3-1 win for the IoW.
Wightlink Player of the Match – Seb Foster
The Ladies 1Xi travelled away to face Bournemouth 3XI for a match filled with flair, speed and determination. The first half saw the Isle of Wight dominate possession with Saffron Hart, Polly Ridr and Jaimie Payne proving instrumental in orchestrating the play from midfield, feeding clever balls to Sophie Parkhouse and Mia Lawrence on the wings.
Their relentless runs and incisive passing linked up beautifully with forwards Lizzie Dodds and Evie Fairhurst, who’s 1-2 passing play continuously beat Bournemouth’s defence for pace. The Island’s pressure soon paid off, when a short coner lead to Payne injecting the short ball to Saffron Hart. While Bournemouth’s quick number-one runner blocked Hart’s initial shot, Hart displayed composure, revers hitting the ball back to Payne. From a tight angle, Payne executed a stunning reverse sweep, slotting the ball past the keeper and putting the Island 1-0 up.
Bournemouth, however, were not to be underestimated. Known for their structured play and hard hitters, they began to ramp up their efforts in the second half. The Island’s defensive line Claire Caddick, Emily Lord, and Hannah Pocock, stood firm under increasing pressure. Goalkeeper Tia Shutler made key interventions to maintain the lead.
Despite the defensive heroics, Bournemouth’s persistence paid off midway through the second half. A swift play down the right-hand side saw the ball switched centrally, leaving the defence temporarily overloaded.
A scrappy contest in the D ensued, and with the ball bouncing loose, it was poked past Shutler, levelling the score at 1-1. Both sides continued to create chances with a thrilling display of end-to-end hockey, but with nobody able to grab that winning touch the game finished 1-1.
Wightlink Player of the Match – Jaimie Payne
The IoW Ladies 2XI started off the home games where they hosted Havant 4XI. The Island battled hard and created some chances but were unable to convert. Havant showed why they are second in the league and won the game 6-0.
Our Mens 1XI then put on a dominant display as they earned their third win in a row as they hosted Wimborne Wayfarers. The match began with a blistering display of attacking hockey from the home side. Within the opening 10 minutes, the Island men had netted three quick goals, their fluidity in possession proving too much for Wimborne to handle. However, a lapse in shape and focus midway through the half allowed the visitors to gain a foothold. Wimborne capitalized on the opportunity, converting two well-executed short corners to narrow the deficit.
Despite this wobble, the Isle of Wight team regained their composure and finished the first half as they started—dominant. A fourth goal before the break restored their two-goal cushion, sending them into halftime with a 4-2 advantage.
The second half saw the Island men reclaim complete control. Their dominance across all areas of the pitch translated into six more unanswered goals, showcasing clinical finishing and relentless pressure. The visiting Wimborne side had no answer as the Isle of Wight surged to a comprehensive 10-2 victory. Scorers – Adam Payne 3, Joe Arnold 3, Alex Breach 1, Kit McChesney 1, Gareth Holmes 1, Finn Woodford 1.
Wightlink Player of the Match – Adam Payne
On Sunday, The U14 Girls travelled to Petersfield and walked away with a 2-1 win thanks to goals from Martha & Annabelle.
