Isle of Wight Ladies 1XI had a strong win away to Southampton 2XI on Saturday 15th October.
The ladies 1XI piled the pressure on the opposition straight away. Stealing the ball, Sarah Shaw broke forward. She passed to Jaimie Payne on the top D, who found Kayleigh Pullen on her right. Pullen slotted the ball through the keeper’s legs and Katy Ednay watched it over the line (0-1).
Southampton had their own chances, distributing the ball well, prompting the island to cut down their attack. Bea Pink was a nemesis up top, harassing Southampton’s backline, aiding turnover to the island. A bullet pass from Saffron Hart into the D was deflected into goal by Ednay, after a well-worked team move up the left (0-2).
Throughout the 1st half, Southampton’s determination to stay in the game earnt them numerous short corners, but first-runner Emily Lord thwarted every attempt.
Half time: Southampton 2XI 0-2 Isle of Wight ladies 1XI
The ladies started the 2nd half with fire in their bellies. Quick distribution throughout the backline of Kirsty Fraser, Crys O’Connell, Lord and Claire Caddick supported the midfield’s movement up the pitch. Georgia Whittle and Pip Spibey were clinical at poaching the ball from the opposition and feeding it to the forward line. This soon led to Sarah Shaw taking a shot on goal. Her hit wasn’t 100% clean, and Ednay made sure it found its way into the goal (o-3).
Southampton kept fighting and pressed the island’s defence and again won short corners. A well-worked routine saw the ball slip under an island stick and hit the backboard (1-3).
Their other efforts were quashed, including some brilliant saves from Tia Shutler. Grabbing their own short corner opportunities, Hart wasted no time in rocketing a shot past the keeper (1-4).
The clock was counting down and to add one more to their tally, Ednay found space in the D, reverse slapping the ball through the keeper’s legs, with Payne and Pink on hand to make sure it found the goal (1-5).
The whistle blew, signalling Southampton’s last short corner attempt as the final play of the game. Reading their attempt well, the island cleared the ball and celebrated securing their first points of the season.
Full time: Southampton 2s 1 – Isle of Wight ladies 1XI 5
Goals from: Katy Ednay (3), Saffron Hart (1) and Kayleigh Pullen (1)
Wightlink player of the match: Emily Lord
The men’s 2XI started with lots of dangerous tackles from the midfield line of Mike Dodds, Carl Joyce, Max Sharp and Finn Woodford, which opened lots of scoring opportunities.
Woodford opened the scoresheet, following up a rebound from a short corner (1-0). Soon after, Nathan Bruce was able to poke a ball over the line from another short corner (2-0). The home team continued to dominate the game, passing the ball accurately. Fareham’s attacks were dealt with by the backline of Ashley Metcalfe, Toby Noyes, Nik Goode and Reuben Smallwood-Butler.
Support from John Pearson allowed Patrick Butt to secure the island’s 3rd goal (3-0), and Aaron O-Hanlon-Hoare’s slap of the ball brought the score to 4-0 before the half-time whistle.
Half time: Isle of Wight men’s 2XI 4-0 Fareham 7s
Fareham brought the game to the island in the early stages of the 2nd half. Defending and goalkeeping by Lewis Wells maintained a clean sheet for the home side. Stepping up a gear the island began their attack and link-up play between Steven Holbrook and Jonny Kirby created several chances. A quick brace from Bruce secured his first hat trick of the season (6-0).
Sharp wasn’t to be outdone and hammered a ball into goal from the edge of the D in the last plays of the game (7-0).
Final score: Isle of Wight men’s 2XI 7 – Fareham 7s 0
Goals from: Nathan Bruce (3), Max Sharp (1), Finn Woodford (1), Patrick Butt (1) and Aaron O’Hanlon-Hoare (1)
Wightlink player of the match: Nathan Bruce
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On home-turf, the ladies 2XI faced a difficult battle against top-of-the-table Basingstoke 5s.
The start of the game was a scrappy affair, with the opposition having the upper hand. The island couldn’t find their rhythm and the more experienced Basingstoke side took advantage, finding the net early in the half (0-1).
In end-to-end play, the island hit back with their own attacks. Sadly they were unable to convert, but an excellent performance from their defensive line and superb saves from their keeper kept them in the game.
The second half was a different story and the home team came out stronger. The game flowed much more in their favour and promising moves through the midfield allowed a breakthrough attack towards the end of the game. A cross from Megan Bridger allowed Dee Sanchez-Brown to tap the ball into the goal in the final minutes (1-1), stealing full points from the opposition.
Final score: Isle of Wight 2XI 1-1 Basingstoke 5s
Goal from: Dee Sachez-Brown
Joint Wightlink players of the match: Poppy Cullen and Dee Sanchez-Brown
️In a surprising turn of events, despite a gritty battle against their opposition, sadly the impressive points-winning run for the men’s 1XI team came to an end on Saturday, as they succumbed to defeat against Winchester 3s.
