Rock hard pitches, parched grass and temperatures of up to 30C were some of the problems encountered by Isle of Wight footballers as the 2022/23 Division 1 football campaign kicked off on Saturday 13th August.
East Cowes Sports 1-2 Pan Community
In the battle between the 2 promoted sides at GKN Sports Ground, Pan took the lead in the 7th minute through Ross Lacey. Ash Gulliver added a 2nd goal for Pan in the 51st minute, with Shaun Gulliver scoring a late 2nd half consolation goal for ECS 10 minutes before full time.
Bembridge 2-2 Northwood St Johns
A brace of goals from Michael Brown saw Bembridge draw with NSJ at Steyne Park. Bembridge took the lead through a penalty after 5 minutes with Northwood equalizing after 20 minutes. Bembridge scored again to go into halftime with a 2-1 advantage. However, a 70th-minute goal from NSJ saw the points shared.
Binstead & COB 2-2 Brading Town
Binstead drew with Brading Town at the Molehill with the home side’s goals coming from Ashley Smith and Paul Dodd.
Oakfield 4-1 Ryde Saints
Oakfield won the bragging rights in the Ryde derby at Slade Road thanks to strikes from James Garrett, Liam Bennett, Kai Child and Harry Taylor.
Shanklin 3-0 Cowes Sports Reserves
Champions Shanklin saw off Cowes Sports Reserves at the County Ground thanks to goals from George Carter-Knight, Wayne Newnham and Nicky Vyse.
Vectis 0-4 Whitecroft & Barton Sports
Last season’s runners-up, Whitecroft & Barton Sports, saw off Vectis at Cowes Enterprise College thanks to a brace from Freddie Knowles and a goal apiece from Liam Slaven and Alex Wright. W&B now head Division 1 on goal difference after just 1 game with Shanklin 2nd.
West Wight 2-1 Sandown & Lake
West Wight beat Sandown at Camp Road thanks to strikes from Simon Merrett and Jack East after Sandown had taken the lead.
Please send names of Isle of Wight football goalscorers, photographs and match reports to [email protected]
Fixtures for Wednesday 17th August
Kick-off 18:00 unless otherwise stated
- Binstead & COB v Pan Community
- Brading Town v Bembridge (18:30)
- Cowes Sports Reserves v Vectis
- East Cowes Sports v W&B
- Oakfield v Sandown & Lake
- Ryde Saints v Shanklin
- West Wight v Northwood St Johns
None had to be there, and, if their work conditions were such, most would have stayed home.