Oakfield Reserves retained the Ryde & District Cup after a physical encounter with near neighbours High Park at the Peter Henry Ground on Thursday evening (29th September).
The Ryde & District Cup is the oldest football competition on the Isle of Wight, dating back 150 years, having 1st been played in 1867.
The game began with High Park playing down the slope. The 1st good chance came in the 20th minute when Oakfield goalkeeper Kieran Sanderson fisted over a curling shot from High Park’s Mark Goodwin. Oakfield’s best chance of the half came 5 minutes later when High Park keeper Kieran Hartnell parried a free kick from Jack Morris.
On the half hour mark, High Park hit the near post upright direct from a corner. Overall, the 1st half was an even but very physical contest with some fierce tackling and no quarter given by either side.
Half time: High Park 0-0 Oakfield Reserves
Now playing down the slope, the Oakers managed to break the deadlock in the 50th minute, but their goal was disallowed.
Both sides had good scoring opportunities. In the 55th minute, Danny Mew shot just over for High Park. 2 minutes later, Jack Morris shot just over for Oakfield.
In the 63rd minute, Matt Woods shot just wide for the Oakers. 3 minutes later, Oakfield’s Lewis Pengelly found himself in a great scoring position but headed straight at High Park keeper Kieran Hartnell.
The breakthrough for Oakfield came in the 70th minute when Tom Bello scored a poacher’s goal after an earlier effort had bounced off the upright (0-1).
In the 77th minute, Danny Mew missed a great opportunity to equalise for High Park when he shot over the crossbar after the ball had been spilled by Oakfield keeper Sanderson.
10 minutes from the final whistle, Kai Childs gave Oakfield a 2-goal advantage with a deflected shot from the edge of the penalty area (0-2).
5 minutes from full time came 10 minutes of disorder when 2 players tussling led to a mass confrontation between both teams, involving not just those on the pitch but spectators and both benches.
After tempers had calmed, referee Ben Orton gave High Park’s Zak Younie a straight red for violent conduct and a yellow to Oakfield’s Tom Bello.
The game saw 7 yellow cards in total: 4 to Oakfield and 3 to High Park.
Sam Woodmore scored a consolation goal for High Park deep in injury time (1-2), but Oakfield held out to win the Ryde and District cup for the 2nd year in succession.
Full time: High Park 1-2 Oakfield Reserves
High Park: Hartnell, Norman, Carl Younie, McKenner, Joe Hunt, Daryl Hunt, Robjant, Zak Younie, Mew, Goodwin, Clark Subs: Ash Woodmore, Sam Woodmore, Stu Woodmore
Oakfield: Sanderson, Gallop, Hazelwood, Lloyd, Bello, Morris, Chessle, Squibb, Pengelly, Woods, Childs Subs: Fleming, Garrett, Floyd, Fretwell
Sounds an exciting match, and there is bound to be a little ruff and tumble when feelings are running high.