A goal in each half from Jared Tout-Walters saw Cowes Sports avenge a 3-6 home defeat with a 1-2 win against Brockenhurst in the New Forest.
The game began as a 20:15 late kick off as the 16:30 ferry did not leave until 18:00.
The Yachtsmen suffered a poor start to the game with the Badgers’ midfielder Harry Bunce dispatching the ball past Ed Hatt in the 6th minute (1-0).
Cowes equalised in the 25th minute after Jared Tout-Walters pounced on a ball that had been spilled by the Brockenhurst keeper to equalise (1-1).
The Yachtsmen continued to dominate for the remainder of the first half, with a fine goalkeeping performance from Jordi Miret preventing the Island team from taking the lead.
Half time: Brockenhurst 1-1 Cowes Sports
The Badgers came close to going ahead in the 64th minute when their No 11 Andry Demira headed over the crossbar from a promising position.
5 minutes later, the Yachtsmen went ahead through Jared Tout-Walters, who converted a Fin Phillips cross at the back post (1-2).
Fin Phillips and John McKie then had opportunities to extend the visitors’ advantage but sliced their goal attempts.
Brockenhurst were forced to play the final 10 minutes of the game with 10 men after one of their number was sinbinned.
Callum Chase had a good chance to make the 3 points certain for the Yachtsmen 4 minutes from full time but headed a George Carter-Knight cross directly at Miret.
The Yachtsmen defended doggedly for the final few minutes of the contest to ensure all the points returned across the Solent.
Full time: Brockenhurst 1-2 Cowes Sports
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Hughes, Dempsey, Chase, Oatley, Wright, Tout-Walters, Cook, Browne, McFarlane, McKie (c) Subs: Phillips, Carter-Knight, Hancott, Sanderson
Victory for the Yachtsmen sees Cowes rise to 11th in the Wessex Premier table with 37 points from 29 games.
VICS LOSE GROUND IN PROMOTION CHASE AFTER DEFEAT BY FOLLANDS
East Cowes Victoria were bested by Folland Sports in a scrappy game at Beatrice Avenue.
Vics manager Alex Smith again had to shuffle his side with several key players missing, including Liam Triggs (injured), Scott Jones (paternity), and Jordan Chapman (suspended).
The Planemakers took an early 5 minute lead after a mix up in the Vics defence following an appeal for handball which was not given, with Morgan Moret finishing well past a defence waiting for a whistle that never came.
Gareth Bricknell was unlucky on 13 minutes when his free kick was well saved by Ollie Plunkett in the Follands goal.
The game was became increasingly difficult for referee Chris Cass – who appeared out of his depth officiating a Wessex League fixture – to control towards the end of the half, with the away side attempting to have Vics players penalised for real or imagined fouls by feigning injury.
There were yellow cards awarded to Follands’ Callum Dart and Luke Simkin, and Vics’ Liam Newbold and Harrison Yates during a 7-minute period towards the end of the half.
Half time: East Cowes Victoria 0-1 Folland Sports
Vics equalised early in the 2nd half when an Aedan Coode corner was met perfectly by Elliot Wheeler, whose header went in off the underside of the crossbar (1-1).
Follands regained the lead on 62 minutes when Marlon Mason managed to get between Newbold and Perrin before lobbing Alex Ram (1-2).
Vics then had 2 good penalty appeals turned down after substitute Josh Neale was felled in the penalty area and a handball was not penalised.
There were then a succession of goal attempts from the home side. Wheeler was unlucky with a 69th minute header; a minute later, Jacob Reynolds had a 45-yard lob spectacularly saved by Plunkett.
Further scoring opportunities for Vics followed: Adam Voller sent a 71st minute effort sailing over; Aedan Coode placed the ball inches wide in the 73rd minute; Harrison Yates almost caught the keeper out with a long-range shot the 83rd.
The Planemakers had Plunkett to thank for preserving their lead in stoppage time, saving from Reynolds on 90 minutes then spectacularly stopping a shot from Raff Boyd-Kerr in the 93rd.
Full time: East Cowes Victoria 1-2 Folland Sports
East Cowes Victoria: Ram, Snow, Yates, Newbold, Perrin, Wheeler, Coode, Boyd-Kerr, Bricknell, Reynolds, C. Neale Subs: J. Neale, Voller, Hart, Kirby, Mazambara
Man-of-the-match: Aedan Coode
Defeat for Vics leaves the East Cowes side 4th in Wessex Division 1, 14 points behind leaders New Milton but 11 points above Ringwood Town, their closest playoff place contender.
PORT EARN POINT AT MILLERS PARK
Newport were held to a goalless draw by Totton & Eling.
The Millers began the game brightly, with Adam Woodcock striking the crossbar moments after kick off.
Port then applied pressure for the remainder of the first half, with Neo Lamb shooting just over the crossbar in the 5th minute, Ji Nash having an effort that went across the face of the goal kept out by Totton keeper Theo Widger, and the away side also failed to put the ball in the net after a goalmouth scramble before half time.
Half time: Totton & Eling 0-0 Newport IW
Port continued to pile on the pressure in the 2nd half, with Neo Lamb striking the crossbar in the 62nd minute, following which the Island side had a goal disallowed for offside.
However, a failure to find the decisive touch in the final third of the pitch saw Newport return across the Solent with only a point.
Full time: : Totton & Eling 0-0 Newport IW
Newport IW: Pitman, Holbrook, Lamb, Walsh, Watterson (c), McDonough, Nash, Catania, Grace, Conway, Butcher Subs: Thompsett, Foster, Linington, Goldberg Man-of-the-match: Kai Grace
Port remain 8th in Wessex Division 1, 5 points behind Fleetlands in the final playoff position.
After the game Newport IW FC commented via social media:
“Everything but a goal here tonight, great performance from the team and hope that’s boosted their confidence… great talking and great work rate from everyone.”
Totton & Eling stated:
“Very evenly contested game tonight, with not a lot to choose between the sides. The visitors did have a late goal disallowed for offside, but a point is probably a fair reflection.”
