East Cowes Vics were the only Isle of Wight side to win today (Saturday) after beating Fleetlands by a single goal in the 6th minute of stoppage time.
Vics started the brighter with an excellent chance for Aedan Coode, which was blocked in the 5th minute. Fleetlands grew into the game and created some good opportunities, but there was no end product. Vics had the odd chance but without finding a cutting edge in the final third of the field.
The 1st half ended in stalemate with both sides having worked hard but neither keeper being troubled.
Half time: East Cowes Vics 0-0 Fleetlands
Vics started the second half with real vigour and were unlucky not to score on 48 minutes, with Josh Neale not making the contact he would have liked when in on goal. 3 minutes later, a Jacob Reynolds free kick was tipped over the bar. Ollie Carroll in the Fleetlands goal made a wonderful save from a fine effort from Josh Neale in the 57th minute.
Fleetlands were struggling to really make inroads on Vics’ goal but – in the 70th and 71st minutes – Alex Ram was called into action and pulled off 2 fine saves.
Jordan Chapman was sin binned for dissent in the 89th minute (although he claimed mistaken identity); leaving Vics with 10 men for the remainder of the game.
An effort from Fleetlands’ Ollie Page in the 90th minute was only stopped by the angle of the Vics goal.
The game appeared set for a goalless draw but with 6 minutes of added time on the clock, some great work down the left saw Harrison Yates pull a quality ball back across the Fleetlands box; the ball fell for substitute Brad Young to hit an unstoppable shot into the corner of the net from the edge of the penalty area to score his first and only goal for Vics (1-0).
Full time: East Cowes Vics 1-0 Fleetlands
East Cowes Vics: Ram, Mumford (Young), Yates, Newbold, Chase, Reynolds, Chapman, Boyd-Kerr (Catania), Voller (Hart), Coode, Neale (Parsons) Sub not used: Berry
After the game, Vics manager Alex Smith said:
“Despite playing without Ji Nash and Toby Snow, we deserved to win. We controlled the game and kept our shape.
“In the 2nd half, we were positive and assertive and made changes in an attempt to win the game.”
Vics’ win leaves the East Cowes side 9th in Wessex Division 1, 5 points behind Millbrook in the 5th play off spot but with 2 games in hand.
INDISCIPLINE COSTS PORT AT ALRESFORD
Newport finished their game against Alresford Town with just 8 men on the field as they slumped to their 6th successive defeat.
The game began badly for Port with Spike Pearce forced off the pitch with a dislocated shoulder to be replaced by Keelan Walsh. Alresford opened the scoring in the 37th minute through John Cole (1-0); Joe Butcher equalized to leave the scores level going into the half time break (1-1).
In the 2nd half, Jordan Browne gave Port the lead after swooping on a ball parried by the Alresford keeper (1-2). The home side were then awarded a penalty, which was saved by Pitman.
Sanchez McClean equalized for Alresford (2-2). The North Hampshire side were then reduced to 10 men with John Cole given his marching orders for a foul on Port captain McDonough, following which Harry Taylor was sinbinned.
The game then turned into a farce. First, Alresford took the lead through a 2nd goal from substitute McClean (3-2). Soon after, Port keeper Pitman was given his marching orders for a mistimed challenge. Next, Keelan Walsh was sent off (for a 2nd yellow), as were 2 members of the Newport management team: Steve Brougham and Gary Streeter. Finally, McClean scored his hat trick against a team with just 8 players on the pitch (4-2). A further sending off for the Island side followed, with Taylor dismissed on his return to the game.
Full time: Alresford Town 4-2 Newport IoW
Newport (IoW): Pitman, West, Page, Watterson, McDonough (c), Pearce, Butcher, Taylor, Browne, Craig, Myram Subs: Walsh, Streeter, Bristow, Melton
Newport’s defeat leaves the County Town club in 16th place in Wessex Division 1, with 10 points from 11 games.
YACHTSMEN BEATEN AT HOME BY RAMS
Cowes Sports lost to Petersfield Town in a game in which they were leading 1-0 at half time after playing the 2nd half with 10 men.
An in form Connor Kelly gave the Yachtsmen the lead after just 10 minutes with a long range strike (1-0). Petersfield Town came close to equalising in the 39th minute when Dec Sieden hit the crossbar. However, the home side suffered a blow on the stroke of half time with a red card awarded to George Colson for a 2nd yellow.
In the 2nd half, the Rams equalised in the 62nd minute when Ryan Oatley headed into his own goal (1-1). Dec Sieden then scored the winner for the away side in the 70th minute with a shot from outside the penalty area.
Full time: Cowes Sports 1-2 Petersfield Town
Cowes Sports: Hatt, White, Hancott, West, Oatley, Colson, Phillips, Cook, Conway, McKie (c), Kelly Subs: Mumford, Carter-Knight, Hayward, Barron, McFarlane
Defeat leaves Cowes Sports 10th in the Wessex Premier Division with 16 points from 11 games.
