West Wight Reserves won the Isle of Wight Junior A Cup by beating Oakfield on penalties at Beatrice Avenue last night (Wednesday).
This is the 2nd trophy for West Wight Reserves in 2024/25 after having already won Combination 1 by a 9-point margin and going the entire season undefeated.
West Wight Reserves last won the Junior A Cup in 1994 – 31 years ago.
Runners up Oakfield – who only reformed this season – have also had a very successful campaign, having won the Ryde & District Cup and promotion to Division 1. Their reserve side were champions of Combination 2.
West Wight began the game on the front foot with Jordan Flynn putting a good scoring opportunity just wide in the early stages of the game.
The Combination 1 side suffered a setback in the 26th minute when Ben Winton was stretched off the pitch with what appeared to be a serious injury.
West Wight should have gone ahead in the 37th minute when awarded a penalty for a foul on Conal Groom.
However, man-of-the-match Ben Woodford saved the resulting spot kick from Simon Merrett.
George Saunders had 2 good scoring opportunities for West Wight in the closing minutes of the 1st half, but was unable to break the deadlock.
Half time: West Wight Reserves 0-0 Oakfield Reserves
West Wight took the lead on the hour mark from a George Saunders strike from the edge of the penalty area that went in off the upright (1-0).
Nathan Roberts equalised for Oakfield 5 minutes later with a low shot that ricocheted off the left post before rolling into the goal (1-1).
Cam Ring put the ball in the net for West Wight in the 76th minute, but the goal was disallowed for a foul on Woodford.
Nathan Roberts then had an excellent opportunity to win the game for Oakfield, but his shot trickled past the upright.
In the 80th minute, Woodford made an excellent save to deny West Wight’s Jason Moore.
The final chance fell to West Wight’s Simon Merrett, who headed just past the right post from a promising position.
Full time: West Wight Reserves 1-1 Oakfield Reserves
And so to penalties…
Jason Moore, George Saunders and Simon Merrett all scored for West Wight, with Merrett netting the decisive spot kick.
Ben Gearing saved 2 Oakfield penalties, with the 4th missed.
Penalties: West Wight 3-1 Oakfield
West Wight Reserves: Gearing, Winton, Groom, Carey, Ring, Simmonds, Saunders, Moore, Flynn, Merrett, Millar Subs: Clark, Goddard, Newey
Oakfield: Woodford, T Larbalestier, Chessell, Gawn, Wood, Lavell, Hammond, Watterson, Roberts, Gardener, J. Larbalestier Subs: Phillips, Farrell, Hall
Man-of-the-match: Ben Woodford (Oakfield)
PHOTOS:
