Charlie Hart – aged just 16 years and 28 days – scored the winning goal for Vics against Verwood Town at Beatrice Avenue on Tuesday evening.
Ryde School student Charlie was making his 1st start for the East Cowes club.
The match began with a minute’s silence for Billy Arnold, who was closely connected with present and former players and coaches of the East Cowes club.
This was a game of few chances, with a poor Potters side creating nothing throughout the entire 90 minutes.
Little happened in the 1st 45 minutes although Vics had 3 good penalty appeals: 2 for handball and 1 for a push on Kade Woodford.
However, the 1st half ended dramatically when – in the 2nd minute of injury time – Josh Neale struck the ball from a tight angle and the Verwood keeper could only parry the goal attempt, allowing Charlie Hart to knock the ball into the back of the net from the edge of the 6-yard box (1-0).
Half time: East Cowes Vics 1-0 Verwood Town
As in the 1st half, there were few scoring opportunities in the 2nd, with the Vics defence comfortably dealing with any attacking moves from the Dorset side.
In the 64th minute, Josh Neale appeared to be through on goal for Vics but was dispossessed inside the Potter’s penalty area. Neale also had 2 further chances around the 75 minutes mark but sent both wide.
The closest Vics came to adding to their lead came 10 minutes from full time when substitute Charlie Marsek and Sam Cant had close range shots blocked in quick succession.
Vics saw out the final minutes of the game without mishap, leaving Charlie Hart’s winning goal as the difference between the 2 sides.
Full time: East Cowes Vics 1-0 Verwood Town
Vics: Ram, Kirby, Woodford, Berry, Chase, Yates, Voller, Flux, Cant, Neale, Hart Subs: Turner, Parsons, Radford, Haward, Marsek
After the game, Vics manager Alex Smith – who has saved his side from what appeared to be certain relegation when he took over in December – said:
“The game had an end of season feel to it. However, I’m delighted for Charlie. I’ve coached him since he was 9 years old. We did a lot of 1-to-1 work together during the lockdown.”
Alex pointed out that he was not the only coach responsible for developing Charlie Hart’s talent.
The Vics manager also singled out a senior player – Harrison Berry – as having put in much improved performances since he had taken charge of the playing side of the club.
PORT CLIMB TO 2ND SPOT IN WESSEX DIVISION 1
The County Town club have climbed to 2nd place in the Division 1 table after an emphatic 4-0 victory over Whitchurch United at Smallbrook Stadium.
Joe Butcher opened the scoring for Newport with a goal after just 6 minutes (1-0). Aaron Burford then hit the ball just past the upright before Rafferty Boyd-Kerr headed the Port into a 2-goal lead on the quarter hour mark (2-0).
Half time: Newport IoW 2-0 Whitchurch United
Newport continued to dominate in the 2nd half with the Jam Boys’ keeper doing well to prevent the away side from losing by an even greater margin.
Winger Conner Kelly added the Port’s 3rd after a great run down the right side of the pitch (3-0). The in-form Ji Nash sealed the win with a goal 3 minutes before the full-time whistle (4-0).
Full time: Newport IoW 4-0 Whitchurch United
Newport IoW: Pitman, Hughes, Hancott, Triggs, Oatley, Barron, Boyd-Kerr, Browne, Burford, Butcher Subs: Chapman, McCormack, Nash
Wessex Division 1 table below:
YACHTSMEN SUNK IN FINAL HOME LEAGUE GAME
Cowes Sports were comfortably beaten by 3rd-placed Stoneham.
The Yachtsmen hit the crossbar early in the game, but the remainder of the 1st half was dominated by the visitors.
The Purples took the lead in the 27th minute through a deflected goal from Liam Callaghan (0-1).
Stoneham had several opportunities to extend their lead with Mat Bainbridge hitting the crossbar, and Ed Hatt making a superb save to deny Duarte Martins at the end of the 1st half.
Half time: Cowes Sports 0-1 Stoneham
The Purples continued to dominate the 2nd half.
Captain Jim Orvis slotted the ball in at the near post in the 57th minute (0-2). 2 minutes later, Duarte Martins struck the visitors’ 3rd (0-3). Lewis Nagle added a fourth for the Hampshire side with a 25-yard strike in the 74th minute (0-4).
The Yachtsmen reduced the deficit through a Scott McFarlane spot kick after Henry West had been brought down in the penalty area (1-4). However, the final word went to the Purples when Duarte Martins rounded Ed Hatt before slotting the ball into an empty net to bag his brace.
Full time: Cowes Sports 1-5 Stoneham
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Dempsey, Whittle, White, West, Conway, Phillips, Coode, Wetherick, Neale, Ahmed Subs: Catania, Taylor, McFarlane, Furmidge, Bunday
Wessex Premier table below:
