Oxford University student Ben Holdsworth’s hat trick saw East Cowes Vics beat Whitchurch United at Beatrice Avenue last night (Wednesday).
The Jam Boys must be fed up with facing Isle of Wight sides, having previously lost 2-6 to Cowes Sports in the Velocity League Cup a fortnight ago, 4-1 to Newport in Wessex Division 1 the following Saturday before going down 5-2 to East Cowes Vics in the Servio Hampshire Senior Cup. They have now conceded 15 goals in 3 games against Island opposition.
East Cowes Vics fielded a much-changed side with captain Callum Chase suspended, striker Charlie Marsek injured and Alex Ram (goalkeeper), Jacob Reynolds (midfielder) and Toby Snow (full back) all rested. First-team regulars Jordan Chapman, Ji Nash, Harrison Yates, and Josh Neale warmed the substitutes’ bench.
Adam Voller – who has scored twice in 2 games – was given his 1st full start. Harrison Catania – a welcome return from Cowes Sports – was named as substitute. Nicky Vyse – who played for Shanklin last season – warmed up with the East Cowes Vics side.
Vics scored 5 over the 90 minutes but the common consensus at Beatrice Avenue was that they could have reached double figures against a Whitchurch side which was mainly made up of teenagers. The onslaught began early with Holdsworth hitting the crossbar in the 5th minute, Aedan Coode forcing a good save from Whitchurch keeper Lamont and Harri Taylor seeing a shot bounce off the crossbar.
Ben Holdsworth made the breakthrough on the quarter-hour mark with a powerful strike Lamont was unable to hold (1-0).
The overworked Jam Boys keeper thwarted efforts from Harri Taylor, Aedan Coode and Harrison Berry. With the goal at his mercy, Berry then somehow managed to hoof the ball over the crossbar from inside the 6-yard box.
Vics’ 2nd goal came in the 35th minute through a powerful low strike from Harri Taylor from outside the penalty area (2-0).
Liam Newbold then had an effort saved on the line and a goal from a glancing header disallowed.
A minute before halftime, Cal McEwan put Whitchurch United back in the game by blasting a corner into the back of the net (2-1).
Half time: East Cowes Vics 2-1 Whitchurch United
Vics carried on where they had left off in the 1st half by scoring in the 48th minute when Aedan Coode smashed a low cross from Adam Voller into the roof of the net (3-1).
In the 62nd minute, Ben Holdsworth picked up the ball just outside the penalty area and blasted it past Lamont (4-1).
Alex Smith then threw on 3 substitutes with Ji Nash, Josh Neale and Harri Catania replacing Adam Voller, Cory Sanderson and Harri Taylor.
Vics’ poor disciplinary record over recent games was made worse by the sending off of Brad Young, who appeared to retaliate to a push in the back by Whitchurch’s Robbie Branigan with an attempted head butt that the Jam Boys midfielder reacted to theatrically. Branigan lay prostrate on the ground for some time before going on to play the remainder of the game apparently uninjured.
10-man Vics conceded an 80th-minute goal when Harry Nash – who normally plays as a goalkeeper – sent a strike into the top corner (4-2).
Ben Holdsworth completed his hattrick in the 91st minute by dispatching a ball that had ricocheted around the penalty area into the back of the net (5-2), sending an unhappy Whitchurch side home to North Hampshire hoping not to face another Isle of Wight side for some considerable time.
Full time: East Cowes Vics 5-2 Whitchurch United
East Cowes Vics: Law, Young, Mumford, Newbold, Berry, Taylor, Holdsworth. Boyd-Kerr, Sanderson, Coode, Voller Subs (all used): Chapman, Nash, Yates, Neale, Catania
West Wight Reserves v Ventnor Reserves (match abandoned)
The game between West Wight Reserves and Ventnor Reserves at Camp Road was abandoned due to a serious injury to Ventnor goalkeeper Rio Barratt.
West Wight were 2-0 up at halftime through goals from Jude and Adam Millar and controlling the game. 10 minutes into the 2nd half, a collision between the Ventnor goalkeeper and a West Wight player caused the ‘keeper to suffer concussion. After 30 minutes, the referee decided to abandon the game. The ambulance arrived 1 hour later.
