Vics secured an impressive home win, while Cowes Sports and Newport were both forced to settle for draws last night (Tuesday).
VICS TURN ON THE STYLE AFTER FAST START TO SEE OFF THE RAMS
East Cowes Vics produced a dominant display under the Beatrice Avenue lights to secure a convincing victory against Petersfield Town.
Vics welcomed the Rams to Beatrice Avenue after a late venue switch, with Rafferty Boyd-Kerr marking his 100th appearance with a pre-match presentation.
The hosts started sharply, with early efforts from Jordan Chapman and Josh O’Reilly testing George Bridi. Elliot Wheeler and Harry Close both went close before Wheeler broke the deadlock on 6 minutes, firing superbly into the top corner (1-0).
Vics continued to press, with Jean-Pierre Alexander denied by Bridi and Boyd-Kerr unable to convert at the far post. Chances for Wheeler, Wright and Neale followed as the home side finished the half strongly.
Half Time: East Cowes Vics 1-0 Petersfield Town
Petersfield responded quickly after the restart, with Harry Close seeing an effort saved before finishing clinically a minute later to level (1-1).
The equaliser sparked Vics back into life. Liam Newbold restored the lead on 63 minutes, reacting quickest after Boyd-Kerr’s header struck the bar (2-1). Wheeler grabbed his 2nd on 76 minutes, sliding home after a flowing move (3-1).
Jake Wright then struck the post before winning and converting a penalty on 80 minutes, sending the ball high to the keeper’s left (4-1). Charlie Hart was unlucky late on, hitting the foot of the post.
Full Time: East Cowes Vics 4-1 Petersfield Town
East Cowes Victoria: Bridi, Snow, Newbold (c), Triggs, Yates, Chapman, Wheeler, Boyd-Kerr, Wright, J Neale, C Neale. Subs: Hart, Woodford, Barnes, Kirby, Jackson. Man-of-the-Match: Elliot Wheeler
Victory leaves Vics 13th in the Wessex Premier with 36 points from 30 games, 3 points ahead of local rivals Cowes Sports.
LATE DRAMA DENIES YACHTSMEN VICTORY AFTER DOMINANT DISPLAY
Cowes Sports were held to a frustrating draw despite racing into a 2-goal lead on Tuesday evening.
Tuesday night’s game was played in memory of Marc ‘Buzz’ Burrows, who had represented both sides. Buzz famously set a Guinness World Record in 2004 for the fastest ever goal at 2.5 seconds. He sadly passed away on 9th February 2009 following a battle with pancreatic cancer.
Cowes made a flying start and took the lead on 14 minutes when McFarlane latched onto a long ball and calmly finished (0-1). The Yachtsmen doubled their advantage on 21 minutes as Phillips picked up possession, beat several defenders and fired into the bottom corner (0-2).
Chances continued to fall for the visitors, with McFarlane denied from close range and Christchurch seeing a goal ruled out for offside before the break.
Half Time: Christchurch 0-2 Cowes Sports
Cowes pushed for a 3rd, with McFarlane striking the post and Phillips denied after good work from Flood.
However, the hosts were handed a route back into the game on 83 minutes with a controversial goal that appeared offside (1-2). Ram then produced a fine save to preserve the lead moments later.
Deep into stoppage time, Christchurch were awarded a disputed penalty, which Callum Hockton converted to snatch a point (2-2).
Full Time: Christchurch 2-2 Cowes Sports
Cowes Sports: Ram, Dempsey, Mumford, Chase, Flood, Colson (c), Cook, Phillips, McFarlane, Cruttenden, Carter-Knight. Subs: Hatt, Perrin, West, Cooch, Weeks. Man-of-the-Match: Phillips
The Yachtsmen remain 14th in the Wessex Premier, 3 points and 1 place below East Cowes Vics.
GALE-FORCE CONDITIONS SEE NEWPORT FORCED TO SETTLE FOR DRAW
Driving rain and swirling winds set the tone as Newport were held in a hard-fought encounter against playoff place rivals Cove at the Zilch Waste Stadium.
This was never destined to be a classic. Newport started brightly, but somehow failed to take an early lead, spurning several chances from close range.
As so often happens, Port were made to pay in the 10th minute. A tame effort from Charlie Oatway somehow squirmed through Leon Pitman and into the net to provide the visitors with an early lead (0-1).
Newport almost responded immediately – a thunderous left-footed strike from Jordan Browne brilliantly tipped over the bar. Further chances came and went, but the hosts went into the break behind despite Pitman producing outstanding saves to his right and left.
Half Time: Newport 0-1 Cove
The 2nd half was largely one-way traffic, with Newport on top and Keelan Walsh at the heart of everything. Cove, hampered by injuries, retreated deep and relied on the counter.
The pressure finally told when Jordan Browne fired home from full stretch to level in the 65th minute (1-1). Chances followed, with Ji Nash denied from a free-kick and a dangerous cross evading everyone.
Newport came closest to a winner when Browne’s sublime through ball released Walsh, but his delicate finish drifted agonisingly wide. Cove then rattled the crossbar late on in a rare attack.
With just 3 minutes of added time — perhaps with one eye on disrupted ferry crossings — the contest ended all square.
Full Time: Newport 1-1 Cove
Newport: Cant, Pitman, Watterson, Holbrook, Thompsett, Lamb, Craig, Walsh, Butcher, Browne, Nash. Subs: Benford, Conway, Linington, Ballinger, Mazambara. Man-of-the-Match: Keelan Walsh
The draw leaves Newport 7th in Wessex Division 1, 3 points behind 5th-placed Yateley United.
