Euan St John Biggs struck a superb hat-trick as the Yachtsmen powered to an emphatic victory against Bembridge & Vectis on the 4G at Cowes Enterprise College yesterday.
With the Cowes first team without a fixture, several senior players featured for the reserves – including captain John McKie, defender Callum Chase and forward Charlie Marsek – and their experience proved influential in an open Island League encounter.
Bembridge & Vectis struck first on 18 minutes when Louis Newsham finished a swift break (0-1). Cowes responded decisively. On 22 minutes, Chase headed a corner back across goal and McKie was on hand to fire home from close range (1-1).
The hosts took control on 37 minutes when St John Biggs collected the ball 25 yards out and unleashed a superb strike into the top corner (2-1). Just 3 minutes later, Marsek’s direct running created space on the left and his cross picked out Biggs at the back post for a composed header and his second of the afternoon (3-1).
Bembridge remained competitive and reduced the deficit on 45 minutes through Sam Kirby after a well-worked move (3-2).
Half Time: Cowes Sports Reserves 3-2 Bembridge & Vectis
Cowes showed greater composure after the interval. On 65 minutes, Hayward struck from the edge of the box to extend the lead (4-2). Biggs soon completed his hat-trick to put daylight between the sides (5-2).
Whittle nearly added a spectacular sixth on 78 minutes, his overhead kick clipping the bar, before the scoring was completed on 90 minutes when his cross found Ridley at the back post, and he guided the ball home with his chest (6-2).
Full Time: Cowes Sports Reserves 6-2 Bembridge & Vectis
Cowes Sports Reserves: Perrin, Mumford, Coshell (c), Chase, Ridley, Hayward, St John Biggs, Goodwin, Marsek, McKie, Haward. Subs: Biss, Long, Whittle.
Bembridge & Vectis: Ballington, Barratt, Brown, Furness, Hutcheson, Kirby, Malin, Newsham, Rayner, Scott-Jackson, Sibbick.
The victory keeps Cowes Sports Reserves 3rd in Harwoods Division 1 with 27 points from 17 games and 3 fixtures remaining. Bembridge & Vectis remain 4th on 23 points from 14 games.
SHANKLIN HIT VENTNOR FOR SIX AT COUNTY GROUND
Shanklin produced a dominant display to defeat Ventnor 6-0 at the County Ground yesterday.
After a nervy opening, Shanklin settled into their rhythm and took the lead when Rory Day reacted quickest to score from close range (1-0). The breakthrough eased early tension and the hosts quickly tightened their grip on the contest.
Josh Field doubled the advantage, racing clear and slotting confidently past the goalkeeper (2-0), before Shanklin added a third before the interval. Jamie Trowbridge showed composure and awareness to chip the ball over the Ventnor defence and into the bottom corner to make it 3-0.
Ventnor’s best chance arrived moments before the break when Liam Harper’s strike crashed back off the crossbar, denying the visitors a route back into the game.
Half Time: Shanklin 3-0 Ventnor
Shanklin’s dominance grew after the restart. Trowbridge struck again to make it 4-0, finding the far corner with a superb effort. As spaces opened up late on, Lewis Parsons added 2 further goals to complete an emphatic 6-0 victory (5-0, 6-0).
Full Time: Shanklin 6-0 Ventnor
The result lifts Shanklin to 6th place with 19 points from 12 games and underlines their excellent recent form. Ventnor remain 5th on 21 points from 12 matches despite the heavy defeat.
Osborne Coburg 3-5 High Park
High Park lifted themselves out of the relegation zone by defeating bottom club Osborne Coburg at Victoria Rec.
Harry Taylor scored a hat trick for the away side with Matt Ogden and Jenson Norman chipping in with a goal apiece. Alex Ledger, Elliot Apter and Brad Kenning were on target for the Burg.
In the Hampshire Vase…
East Cowes Sports have reached the semi finals of the Hampshire Vase by overcoming Overton United Reserves at the GKN Sports Ground thanks to goals from Shaun Gulliver, Anthony Cowburn, Josh Richardson and Joe Crabb. Sandown & Lake were sadly knocked out of the competition by Comrades.
In the Junior A Cup…
A Robbie Shepherd brace and further strikes from Sean and Josh Gwilliam saw Vics Reserves comprehensively beaten by Newport Reserves at Beatrice Avenue.
Isle of Wight football fixtures for Saturday 14th February
Hampshire Vase
Comrades 3-2 Sandown & Lake
ECS 4-2 Overton United Reserves
Junior A
East Cowes Vics Reserves 0-4 Newport Reserves
Junior B Quarter Finals
Bembridge & Vectis A 2-2 Oakfield A
Bembridge won 4-3 on penalties
High Park A 7-1 Newchurch Reserves
Harwoods Division 1
Cowes Sports Reserves 6-2 Bembridge & Vectis
Osborne Coburg 3-5 High Park
Shanklin 6-0 Ventnor
Combination 1
Oakfield Reserves 2-7 Brading Town Reserves
W&B Reserves 7-2 West Wight Reserves
