A goal deep in injury time saw Whitecroft & Barton Sports overcome rivals West Wight on Tuesday evening.
Last season, the 2 sides had finished equal on points at the top of Harwoods Division 1, with W&B clinching the title on goal difference in the final game.
W&B started on the front foot with Fin Kalaker striking the upright in the opening minutes.
However, it was West Wight who poached a goal on the quarter hour mark through Josh Daley (0-1).
The woodwork saved the visitors on 2 further occasions in the 1st half, with Sam Cant striking the post and a long Kade Woodford throw bouncing off the crossbar.
3 minutes from the half time interval, Kade Woodford put W&B on level terms after he had been set up by Kalaker (1-1).
Harri Taylor then had a chance to put the home side in front in 1st half injury time but fired straight at West Wight keeper Joe McCormack from the middle of the penalty area.
Half time: W&B 1-1 West Wight
Whitecroft & Barton spurned a golden opportunity to take the lead midway through the 2nd half when Aidan Sainsbury sent a penalty kick wide after referee Andy Doncaster had adjudged a West Wight player to have handled in the penalty area.
The home side dominated the final quarter of the game, with Woodford creating numerous scoring opportunities from his long throws, and Harri Taylor causing problems for the opposition defence with his dead ball trickery.
When it appeared the game was destined to end in a draw, Harry Ovnik rose above the West Wight defence in the 5th minute of injury time to head the past Joe McCormack to the jubilation of his teammates (2-1), ensuring all 3 points were retained by the Sandy Lane side.
Full time: W&B 2-1 West Wight
W&B: Linington, Lyon, Benford, Jackson, Ovnik, Sainsbury, Lambert, Taylor, Kalaker, Cant, Woodford Subs: Augustus, Evans
West Wight: McCormack, Phillips, Groom, Thomas, Jones, Brett, Merrett, Saunders, Bricknell, Daley, Foreman Subs: Harris, Flynn, Reeves
Whitecroft & Barton Sports’ victory leaves them in top spot in the Harwoods Division 1 table with a 100% record in the season to date with 4 wins from 4 games, 3 points ahead of 2nd-placed Ventnor. West Wight are 7th with 3 points from 3 games.
PORT TO FACE ALDERSHOT IN 2ND ROUND OF HANTS CUP
Newport will play National League Aldershot at Beatrice Avenue in the next round of the Hampshire Senior Cup after overcoming Wessex Premier outfit Millbrook in Southampton.
In what was very much a game of 2 halves, Port took the lead in the 18th minute when the Millbrook keeper parried a Kai Grace strike, and the ball fell to captain Jordan Browne to bury in the back of the net (0-1).
4 minutes later, Sonny Myram strolled through the Dockers defence to double the Island side’s lead (0-2).
Newport added a 3rd goal to their tally 4 minutes from the half time break, when Michael Thompsett connected with a free kick on the goal line (0-3).
Half time: Millbrook 0-3 Newport IW
The 2nd half saw the Dockers put Port under considerable pressure, but the home side’s poor performance before the half time break had left them with a mountain to climb.
Callum Drake reduced the deficit for Millbrook to 2 goals by scoring in the 70th minute (1-3).
10 minutes later, Connor Bent ensured a nervous final few minutes for Port by grabbing a 2nd goal for the hosts (2-3). However, Newport held firm in the closing stages of the game to ensure the Island side advanced to the 2nd round of the Servio Senior Cup.
Full time: Millbrook 2-3 Newport IW
Newport IW: Pitman, Goldberg, Wright, Oatley, Thompsett, Holbrook, Nash, Myram, Browne (c), Younie, Grace Subs: Butcher, Kettell, Catania
This evening (Wednesday), Cowes Sports travel to Wessex Division 1 New Milton Town in the 2nd round of the Velocity Wessex League Cup. Kick off is at 19:45
