Oakfield have given closest challengers Niton a mountain to climb if they want to secure the Division 2 championship after clinically taking apart a second-from-bottom Newport ‘A’ side in their final game at Slade Road on Tuesday night.
Newport were hit-for-six by an older, more physical and experienced side in the first half.
Robert Gee opened the scoring for the home side with an 11th minute strike from the middle of the penalty area. (1-0) Gee then added a 2nd in the 18th minute, slotting the ball in from 5 yards. (2-0) Jake Keetch scored a 3rd for the home side in the 27th minute after tapping the ball home from a corner. (3-0)
Gee reached his hat-trick in the 35th minute with a low 15-yard strike. (4-0) A minute later, Martin Barrow sent a powerful shot from the edge of the Newport penalty area to beat the overworked Newport keeper, Josh White. (5-0) White then fouled Gee in the ‘Port penalty area a minute before half time for Jake Keetch to dispatch the resulting spot kick into the back of the visitors’ net. (5-0)
HT: Oakfield 6-0 Newport ‘A’
Oakfield continued where they had left off in the first half with a 15-yard strike from Jake Keetch in the 58th minute. (7-0) Oakfield then had an effort bounce off the crossbar and numerous attempts at goal go high and wide.
Newport fought back gamely late in the second half with George Humphries and Flynn McCabe going close for the visitors and Robert Mansell sending a spectacular bicycle kick just over the Oakfield crossbar. However, an uncharitable Oakfield defence denied the visiting side a consolation goal.
FT: Oakfield 7-0 Newport ‘A’
After the match, Newport ‘A’ manager, John Hinchliffe, said:
“We were very unlucky to concede two of our first half goals. Our 2nd half performance was far better. My man-of-the-match was Curtis Thompson.”
Oakfield manager, Gary Gee, said:
“We won 7-0 and we are happy with that. Newport have improved since the last time we played them.”
Gary was reluctant to say whether he believed the Division 2 Championship was now in Oakfield’s hands.
Oakfield’s victory leaves them in 1st place in IW League 2 with 55 points from 20 games, 6 points ahead of Niton with 49 points from 18 games. Oakfield have a goal difference of +77 and Niton’s goal difference is +55.
Niton must win their 2 remaining games and score over 22 goals to take the 2nd Division title. They play Newport ‘A’ on Saturday (May 22) before travelling to Seaview to play their final game next Tuesday. (May 25)
In League 1, 2nd-placed Shanklin beat a strong Cowes Sports Reserve side 6-0 at the County Ground to maintain the pressure on leaders, Whitecroft and Barton. W&B had a 3-0 walkover victory against East Cowes Sports, who were unable to raise a team.
W&B currently lead IW League 1 with 60 points from 22 games, 8 points ahead of Shanklin with 52 points from 20 games.
Results for Tuesday 18th May
Harwoods Renault League Division 1: Carisbrooke United 1-4 Brading Town; East Cowes Sports A-W Whitecroft & Barton Sports; Northwood St Johns 0-1 Binstead & COB; Shanklin 6-0 Cowes Sports Reserves.
Harwoods Renault League Division 2: Adgestone 10-1 Wroxall; Newchurch 4-0 Yarmouth & Calbourne; Oakfield 7-0 Newport ‘A’; Seaview 2-1 Osborne Coburg.
Fixtures for Saturday, 22nd May:
Harwoods Renault Saturday League Division 1: Binstead & COB v East Cowes Sports; Brading Town v Shanklin; Sandown v West Wight (kick-off 1.30pm; Vectis v Cowes Sports Reserves; Ryde Saints v Northwood St Johns; Whitecroft & Barton Sports v Carisbrooke United (kick-off 1.30pm)
Harwoods Renault Saturday League Division 2: Newport ‘A’ v Niton
Results and fixtures courtesy of Isle of Wight Divisional FA
Combination results and fixtures to appear on Island Echo after Wednesday night’s combination games.
