Substitute Adam Voller salvaged a point for East Cowes Vics at Beatrice Avenue on Tuesday evening with an 89th minute strike.
This was a game the Beatrice Avenue boys should have won comfortably but for poor finishing and a man-of-the-match performance from Romsey keeper Miles Bartram.
The Hampshire side could have taken the lead early in the game when Tiago Moreno hoofed the ball over the crossbar from 5 yards after Alex Ram had spilled the ball. However, after an early scare, all the play came from the Victorians.
In the 11th minute, Vics centre forward Josh Neale forced a 1-handed save from Bartram, the 1st of 6 strong scoring opportunities he failed to convert. Jordan Chapman shot just wide in the 16th, before Neale had a another strong shot parried by Bartram.
In the 33rd minute, Neale once again broke through but saw his shot stopped by Bartram’s boot. 5 minutes from the half time break, Neale just failed to connect with a Harrison Yates cross with the goal at his mercy.
The 1st half ended with Bartram stopping shots from Harrison Taylor and Josh Neale (his 5th clear cut chance).
Half time: East Cowes Vics 0-0 Romsey Town
Vics’ 1st strong 2nd half scoring opportunity came on the hour mark when Neale was once again foiled by Bartram.
Ben Holdsworth then came on for Jordan Chapman. A minute after entering the field of play, Ben had the ball in the back of the net, but his effort was ruled offside.
Romsey – who had looked dangerous on the break – caused Vics to regret their poor finishing when they took a 79th minute lead through substitute Joe Sutherden (0-1).
In a desperate attempt to find an equalizer, Alex Smith sent on 3 substitutes for the final 10 minutes: Corey Sanderson, Adam Voller and Teddy Mumford.
5 minutes from the full time whistle, Liam Newbold shot just wide.
With only a minute of full time play remaining, Adam Holdsworth sent a curling cross across the face of the Romsey goal, which Adam Voller clinically dispatched over the body of Romsey keeper Bartram to salvage a point for the East Cowes side (1-1).
Full time: East Cowes Vics 1-1 Romsey Town
East Cowes Vics: Ram, Snow, Yates, Newbold, Chase (c), Taylor, Reynolds, Chapman, Neale, Coode, Nash Subs (all used): Mumford, Berry, Holdsworth, Sanderson, Voller
The draw leaves Vics in 7th place in Wessex Division 1 with 10 points from 5 games, 9 points behind leaders Hamworthy Recreation but with 2 games in hand.
FREE-SCORING YACHTSMEN RISE TO 3RD IN WESSEX PREM
Cowes Sports have gone 3rd in the Wessex Premier Division after putting 8 past Lymington Town.
The in-form Yachtsmen have now scored a remarkable 20 goals in their last 3 games (2-6, 6-1, 0-8).
Connor Kelly opened the scoring for Cowes by converting a Jimmy Mumford cross from 5 yards (0-1).
Fin Phillips doubled the Yachtsmen’s lead in the 28th minute with an 18-yard strike (0-2).
Ollie West then added a 3rd for the Island’s sole Wessex Premier League side by converting a Connor Kelly cross at the far post (0-3).
Half time: Lymington Town 0-3 Cowes Sports
Connor Kelly created yet another scoring opportunity for Cowes – this time converted by Captain John – his 166th goal in 288 games in a Cowes shirt (0-4).
Liam Triggs added a 5th for the away side with a shot from just inside the penalty area (0-5).
Caleb Neale – brother of Vics’ Josh – latched onto a long ball before beating the keeper easily to add a 6th goal to the Yachtsmen’s ever-growing tally (0-6).
Cowes Sports’ 7th came courtesy of a spectacular own goal strike from the home side (0-7).
Scott McFarlane put the icing on the cake for the Yachtsmen by shooting into the corner of the goal from the edge of the penalty area (0-8).
Full time: Lymington Town 0-8 Cowes Sports
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Mumford, West, Barron, Oatley, McFarlane, Triggs, Colson, McKie (c), Phillips, Kelly Subs: Conway, Carter-Knight, Catania, Neale, Wykes
On Saturday, Cowes Sports face possibly their stiffest test of the season to date when they play possible title favourites – unbeaten Stoneham – at Westwood Park.
PORT MAKE A POINT AT CLANFIELD
Newport have taken their 1st away point of the season in Wessex Division 1 at 2nd-from-bottom Clanfield.
The County Town Club took the lead shortly before the half time break through Joe Butcher; Harvey Cooper equalized for the home side through a 2nd half free kick.
The Port were reduced to 10 men late in the game following a red card for Spike Pearce.
Full time: Clanfield 1-1 Newport (IoW)
Newport IoW: Pitman, Page, Oatley, Watterson (c), McDonough, Pearce, Butcher, Walsh, Browne, Younie, Myram Subs: Wright, Streeter (gk), Bristow, West, Melton
Newport’s draw leaves them 11th in Wessex Division 1 with 7 points from 5 games.
Newport (IoW) Reserves 2-3 Wootton
Wootton have gone equal on points with Harwoods Renault Division 2 leaders Osborne Coburg after beating Newport Reserves at Seaclose. Former Port player Aaron Burford scored a brace for Wootton with the other goal coming courtesy of Macauley Barnes. The Newport scorers were Kieran Allen and Ash Gulliver.
