Oakfield created a 6-point gap between themselves and the 2 bottom clubs in Isle of Wight Division 1 by beating Northwood St Johns at Cowes Community Club on Saturday (11th December).
Oakfield began the game as the dominant side and scored as early as the 5th minute through a good teamwork that was finished off by Alex Dumbrell close to the Northwood goal line (0-1) The Oakers then let Northwood back into the game by playing too deep and were punished on the half hour mark with a 15-yard strike by Callum Bowen-Clarke into the centre of the goal (1-1).
HT: Northwood St Johns 1-1 Oakfield
Oakfield started the 2nd half as they had the 1st by moving the ball well around the pitch, regaining the lead after a throw from keeper Dan Russell put through striker Ellis Lomas who coolly slotted home (1-2). Oakfield then increased their advantage through a Martin Barrow shot into the bottom corner of the Northwood goal (1-3). Northwood scored a consolation goal in the 90th minute with a 20-yard shot from Toby Cousins (2-3).
FT: Northwood St Johns 1-1 Oakfield
Northwood St Johns: Bedding, Woodford, Watson, Tigwell, Flux, White, Bowen-Clark, Fever-Norton, Cousins, Whittle, Holton Subs: Butt, Jones, Collins
Oakfield: Russell, Ward, Taylor, Warrington, Strickland, Barrow, Dumbrell, Bennett, Woolford, Gee, Lomas Sub: Childs
After the game, Oakfield manager Gary Gee said:
“We did concede a disappointing goal in the final seconds. but I was happy with the performance. We have had a tough start to the season, but the lads have been excellent, and we needed these 3 points today.”
Northwood St Johns manager John Cook said:
“Both teams played good football. We shouldn’t have lost, but we missed a lot of chances.”
Oakfield’s victory leaves them in 11th place in Division 1 with 11 points from 10 games. Northwood St Johns are 6th with 17 points from 14 games
BEMBRIDGE 1-4 WHITECROFT & BARTON SPORTS
Reigning Isle of Wight champions and current Division 1 leaders W&B created a 3-point gap between themselves and 2nd-placed Shanklin by comprehensively beating Bembridge at Steyne Park.
Whitecroft & Barton took the lead against Bembridge with a 36th minute goal from Matt Evans, who was set up by Oli Wilson (0-1). W&B then doubled their advantage before the interval through a Josh Appell strike after he had been put into a scoring position by goalkeeper Andy Payne (0-2)
HT: Bembridge 0-2 Whitecroft & Barton Sports
W&B further increased their lead 2 minutes into the 2nd half by means of an Aiden Sainsbury effort with Oli Wilson again creating the scoring opportunity (0-3). In the 65th minute, Bembridge pulled a goal back with an Ant Kettell volley from the edge of the penalty area (1-3). However, the final word belonged to W&B centre forward Josh Appell, who made victory certain for the champions with his 2nd goal of the game, 8 minutes from the final whistle (1-4).
FT: Bembridge 1-4 Whitecroft & Barton Sports
After the game, Bembridge manager Justin Malin said:
“No excuses, they were the better team on the day. First half, we were poor. Second half better; we scored one and were unlucky to not get maybe a couple more. The boys battled and pushed till the end, even being behind and having a few injuries during the game.”
Victory leaves W&B’s 100% record in the current season intact. They currently lie in 1st place with 39 points from 13 games. Bembridge are 3rd with 26 points from 14 games.
VECTIS 0-3 SANDOWN & LAKE
Sandown leapfrogged Vectis in the Division 1 table by beating their opponents by a flattering score line at Cowes Enterprise College.
Sandown took the lead through a 25-yard lob by Sonny Mulholland (0-1). The away side then doubled their lead with a tap-in goal by Alex Breingan (0-2). George Johnson added a 3rd when he went round 3 players before knocking the ball into the back of the net with his left foot (0-3). The man-of-the-match for Sandown was goalkeeper Adam Ross, who pulled off several excellent saves to prevent a competitive Vectis side from scoring.
After the match, Sandown manager Mark Mulholland said:
“I was expecting a difficult game. Vectis were strong and organized. They were the fittest side we have played all season.”
Vectis manager Reece Biedler said:
“The best performance from a keeper I’ve seen at this level. Arguably, another day/keeper we walk away with the win. Can’t afford to lose games to teams around us, but we move on.”
Sandown are now 9th in Division 1 with 13 points from 12 games. Vectis are 10th with 11 points from 12 games.
Only 3 games were played in Isle of Wight Division 1 this Saturday. Brading Town v Shanklin and West Wight v Binstead were both postponed because of waterlogged pitches. Niton v Cowes Sports reserves was an away walkover victory after Niton were unable to raise a team.
Isle of Wight results for Saturday 11th December 2021:
Hampshire FA Trophy Round 3:
Ryde Saints 1st P-P Hedge End Town 1st
The Ken Morris Isle of Wight Junior ‘A’ Cup:
Shanklin Reserves 5-5 Oakfield Reserves
Harwoods Renault IOW Saturday League Division 1: Bembridge 1-4 Whitecroft & Barton Sports; Brading Town P-P Shanklin; Niton Community A-W Cowes Sports Reserves; Northwood St Johns 2-3 Oakfield; Vectis 0-3 Sandown & Lake; West Wight P-P Binstead & COB
Division 2: Carisbrooke United A-W East Cowes Vics Reserves; High Park P-P East Cowes Sports; Newchurch 3-3 Osborne Coburg; Newport Reserves 0-4 AFC Wootton; Pan Community P-P Adgestone; Ventnor 5-3 Yarmouth & Calbourne, Wroxall P-P Seaview
Combination Division 1: Binstead & COB 1-2 West Wight; Osborne Coburg 1-5 Ryde Saints; Sandown & Lake P-P Brading Town; Whitecroft & Barton Sports 3-1 Northwood St Johns
Combination Division 2: AFC Wootton P-P Niton Community; East Cowes Sports 7-0 Bembridge ‘A’; Vectis 3-4 Carisbrooke United; Yarmouth & Calbourne P-P Pan Community
Results courtesy of IOW DFA