All 3 Isle of Wight Wessex League sides recorded memorable victories last night (Tuesday).
PORT SINK LEAGUE LEADERS WITH LATE DRAMA AT WESTWOOD
Brad Young’s dramatic late corner stunned league leaders Colden Common as Newport IW snatched a thrilling Wessex Division 1 victory at Westwood Park.
Both sides arrived in red-hot form, unbeaten throughout February, with Colden Common making their first Island visit sitting proudly at the summit of the table.
Newport were forced into changes through injuries to Jez Conway, Matt Benford and George Holbrook, while player-manager Joe Butcher began a 3-match suspension. There was good news however. as Neo Lamb returned to the heart of defence after recovering from an ankle injury.
The match started at a furious pace. Jordan Browne forced an early opportunity while Ji Nash repeatedly threatened in behind the visitors’ high defensive line.
Colden Common also showed their quality with neat passing in midfield. The combative Keelan Walsh threw himself into the contest and collected a yellow card as the physical battle intensified.
Half Time: Newport IW 0-0 Colden Common
The second half turned into a war of attrition. Newport owed much to Man-of-the-Match Leon Pitman, who produced several excellent saves and was alert in his sweeper-keeper role. In front of him, skipper Macauley Watterson and Lamb put in an immense defensive performance.
The breakthrough finally arrived on 86 minutes when Nash burst past his marker and was brought down from behind inside the area.
Nash stepped up to take the penalty but the goalkeeper parried the ball for a corner. The resulting corner was punched over the crossbar. However, the following corner struck its intended target.
Brad Young’s teasing delivery somehow crept inside the near post to spark wild celebrations among the 131 supporters at Westwood Park (1-0). Did Young score direct from the corner, did Ji Nash bundle the ball home or was it an own goal?
The photographic evidence is far from clear.
Full Time: Newport IW 1-0 Colden Common
Newport IW: Pitman, Grace, Thompsett, Hancott, Watterson (c), Lamb, Nash, Walsh, Browne, Craig, Cant Subs: Mazambara, Linington, Egerton-Read, Weeks, Young Man-of-the-Match: Pitman.
The victory stretches Newport’s unbeaten run to 10 matches and lifts Port into the play-off places, leapfrogging Folland Sports who play tonight.
COLSON ROCKET SENDS YACHTSMEN INTO WESSEX LEAGUE CUP SEMI-FINALS
George Colson struck a stunning stoppage-time free kick as Cowes Sports defeated Fleetlands 1-2 in the Wessex League Cup quarter-final at Powder Monkey Park
The Yachtsmen nearly scored within seconds when McFarlane fired just wide.
Cowes soon took control. On 10 minutes, Colson delivered a dangerous corner that evaded everyone and curled straight into the net (0-1).
Charlie Marsek was outstanding in the first half and on 33 minutes cut inside before smashing a powerful effort against the crossbar.
Fleetlands threatened late in the half, but Gearing produced a superb save on 45 minutes, tipping a fierce effort around the post.
Half Time: Fleetlands 0-1 Cowes Sports
Fleetlands equalised on 52 minutes after Cowes lost possession in defence (1-1).
The game became increasingly dramatic. On 70 minutes, McKie appeared to be taken down inside the area but was instead booked for diving.
Cowes continued to push forward and came agonisingly close when Marsek struck the crossbar and McKie rattled the bar again moments later.
Fleetlands also spurned a late chance before the tie exploded into life deep into stoppage time.
From around 35 yards, Colson unleashed a sensational free kick that flew into the top corner to seal victory for the Yachtsmen (1-2).
Full Time: Fleetlands 1-2 Cowes Sports
Cowes Sports: Gearing, Hughes, Dempsey, Chase, Oatley, Colson, Cook, Phillips, McKie, Marsek, McFarlane Subs: Carter-Knight, Cruttenden, Mumford, Hayward, Tattersall.
The dramatic win sends Cowes Sports into the semi-finals of the Wessex League Cup.
VICS GAIN REVENGE ON HAMBLE WITH STRONG HOME DISPLAY
East Cowes Victoria defeated 2nd-placed Hamble Club at Beatrice Avenue in the Velocity Wessex Premier yesterday evening (3rd March).
The fixture had been rescheduled after the original meeting earlier in the season was abandoned with just 3 minutes remaining following a serious injury to a Hamble player.
Before kick-off there were celebrations for 2 Vics stalwarts, with Aedan Coode presented with a bottle of champagne to mark 100 appearances and Toby Snow honoured for reaching the 200-game milestone.
The Vics made the perfect start. After just 2 minutes Jake Wright delivered a corner that was met superbly on the volley by Jacob Reynolds, giving Hamble goalkeeper Henry Newman no chance (1-0).
Josh Neale fired over soon afterwards while Hamble responded with chances of their own, Jordan Cunningham dragging a shot wide before Elliot Wheeler produced a superb run through the defence only to see his effort saved.
George Bridi was quickly called into action, producing a superb double save on 21 minutes before James Johnson headed over from the resulting corner.
The hosts suffered a setback on 24 minutes when Rafferty Boyd-Kerr was sin-binned, but the Vics defended superbly during the spell with 10 men. Bridi made another excellent stop on 40 minutes before Newman saved twice from Boyd-Kerr late in the half.
Half Time: East Cowes Victoria 1-0 Hamble Club
Hamble began the second half strongly and Matt Casey fired over on 46 minutes before Coode tested Newman at the other end.
The visitors were handed a golden opportunity on 52 minutes when Jake Wright conceded a penalty, but Nick Yeomans’ powerful effort was brilliantly saved by Bridi to the delight of the 135 spectators.
The Vics came close to doubling their lead on 65 minutes when Jordan Chapman’s corner was met by Wheeler, whose header crashed against the crossbar.
Caleb Neale went close on 80 minutes before Hamble missed a good opportunity moments later when Johnson headed wide.
The decisive moment arrived on 82 minutes when Wheeler delivered a superb cross and Josh Neale rose to head past Newman (2-0).
Vics continued to threaten late on. Wright saw an effort cleared off the line on 89 minutes before Newman produced another fine save to deny Caleb Neale.
Full Time: East Cowes Victoria 2-0 Hamble Club
East Cowes Victoria: Bridi, Snow, Wheeler, Triggs, Yates, Chapman, Wright (c), Boyd-Kerr, Coode, Reynolds, Neale Subs: C Neale, Hart, Bricknell, Jackson, Pitman Man-of-the-Match: Bridi.
Victory keeps the Vics 12th in the Wessex Premier with 33 points from 24 games.
