ISLE OF WIGHT FOOTBALL: YACHTSMEN SUNK IN STORM BY ROCKIES

In the only Isle of Wight Wessex League game to survive Saturday’s torrential downpours, Cowes Sports were comprehensively beaten by 2nd-place Shaftesbury. The Yachtsmen went behind as early as the 9th minute, through a Callum Sweeney volley, and the home side preserved their lead until half time (1-0). In the 2nd half, none other than former Portsmouth favourite Brett Pitman doubled the Rockies’ lead in the 64th minute with a great run before rounding keeper Ed Hatt (2-0). 6 minutes later, Devlin added a 3rd for the Dorset side with a 25-yard drive (3-0). Substitute Brandon Hayward then pulled a goal back for the Yachtsmen with 10 minutes remaining (3-1). However, 2 minutes later, Cameron Beard put paid to any possibility of an unlikely comeback for the Island side by smashing home a ball Hatt could only parry (4-1). Full time: Shaftesbury 4-1 Cowes Sports Cowes Sports: Hatt, Mumford (White), West, Barron, Oatley (c), Hancott, Cook (Hayward), Colson, McFarlane (Furmidge), Carter-Knight (Neale), Kelly (McKie) The Yachtsmen’s defeat leaves the Isle of Wight’s sole Wessex Premier representatives in 10th place with 16 points from 12 games. This Tuesday, Cowes face Wessex Premier leaders Moneyfields at Westwood Park in the League Cup. Kick off is at 19:45. In the only Island League game to survive the weather, Binstead Reserves beat Vectis Reserves 4-7 in Combination 1. Today (Sunday), Shanklin Ladies face QK Southampton on the 3G pitch at Cowes Enterprise College in the Hampshire Invitational Cup. Kick off is at 14:00.