Bembridge & Vectis beat Osborne Coburg 4-2 at Steyne Park yesterday evening (Wednesday).
The newly merged side continued their strong start to life in Division 1, moving up to 2nd in the Harwoods Isle of Wight League table.
The home side made a flying start just 2 minutes in when Sam Kirby intercepted possession and teed up Mike Brown, who calmly lobbed the Coburg goalkeeper to open the scoring (1-0). The lead was doubled on 15 minutes as Kirby made a strong run before setting up Louis Newsham to convert from close range (2-0).
Osborne Coburg pulled one back in the 34th minute through Elliot Apter, who smashed the ball in from close range to make it (2-1). But Bembridge & Vectis responded quickly, restoring their two-goal cushion just 3 minutes later when Kirby got on the scoresheet himself with a lobbed finish (3-1).
Half-time: Bembridge & Vectis 3-1 Osborne Coburg
Coburg stayed in the game after the restart and reduced the deficit to (3-2) in the 62nd minute thanks to a composed finish from Luke Stone. They came close to equalising when Redford Cotton fired over from a promising position in the 70th minute.
However, Bembridge & Vectis sealed the win in the 75th minute when Jamie Barratt struck from distance (4-2). Barratt had the final attempt of the match too, blasting over in the closing seconds.
Full-time: Bembridge & Vectis 4-2 Osborne Coburg
Bembridge & Vectis: Hawkins, Sibbick, Smith, McNaney, Shephers, Shaw, Kirby, Symes, Brown, Malin, Newsham Subs: Barratt, Clarke, Rayner
Osborne Coburg: Ash, Takei, Hernes, Glen, Stone, Green, Phillipson, Kenning, Apter, Pengelly, Cotton Sub: Read
It was just the second outing for the Bembridge & Vectis side following their recent merger, having drawn 1-1 with reigning champions Whitecroft & Barton in their opening match. The result now lifts them to 2nd place in the table, 2 points behind leaders West Wight.
For Osborne Coburg, it was another frustrating evening. The Burg have now lost both of their opening fixtures, having fallen 3-2 to West Wight last week, and sit 2nd from bottom in the early standings without a point.
In other games…
Cowes Sports Reserves 1-2 Brading Town
Joe Calder was on target for the home side, but Brading Town secured a 2-1 victory at the Zilch Waste Stadium, also on Wednesday evening.
West Wight 2-1 Ventnor
West Wight went top of the Harwoods Division 1 table after beating Ventnor on Tuesday evening at Camp Road. Chris Elliott (24) and Luke Phillips (42) scored for the home side, with Emerson Tattersall netting a late goal for Ventnor in the 90th minute.
