A formidable 2nd half display saw Osborne Coburg take all 3 points from the Romans on Saturday (23rd November).
Brading Town’s fixture against Osborne Coburg was 1 of only 2 Harwoods Division 1 games to survive Storm Bert.
Vicarage Lane has had the reputation of being the Isle of Wight pitch most susceptible to becoming waterlogged. However, recent drainage work may have been successful in ensuring the game went ahead.
The Romans played down the slope in the 1st half with a gale force wind behind them. The home side dominated the 1st half but without finding the cutting edge in the final third of the pitch.
Brading’s 1st chance fell to Lewis Parsons, who blasted over the crossbar in the 7th minute with only Joe Williams in the Coburg goal to beat.
In the 20th minute, Liam Bennett was unlucky not to put the home side into the lead when he headed inches past the right post.
Brading’s best chance came 10 minutes from half time when captain Dan Vale – making his 600th appearance for the Romans – struck the left post, following which Lewis Parsons blasted the rebound at Williams.
Had Vale scored, this would have been his 400th goal in Brading colours – but he ended the game on 399.
Half time: Brading Town 0-0 Osborne Coburg
Osborne Coburg appealed to referee Steve Raybould to have the game abandoned at half time due to the torrential rain and slippery state of the pitch. Fortunately for the away side, their request fell on deaf ears.
In what was a game of 2 halves, Osborne Coburg – playing down the pitch with the wind in their favour – put on a clinical display of finishing after the half time interval to win the game by a clear margin.
The half began with Vale blasting a volley over the crossbar.
In the 53rd minute, Carl Phillipson took advantage of a mix up between Brading’s goalkeeper and a defender to steal the ball and score in what was the away side’s 1st clear cut chance of the game (0-1).
The Burg were denied a 2nd goal on the hour mark by the referee ruling the ball had gone out of play.
Aaron Bennett than came close to equalising for the Romans but was denied by the legs of Williams.
Harry Green then had 3 chances to double the Burg’s lead in the 68th, 69th and 74th minutes, all of which missed the right post.
10 minutes from full time, Green provided the defence-splitting pass that Charlie Barnes slotted past the Brading keeper to give the away side a 2-goal cushion (0-2).
The final action of the game saw Harry Green take the ball from close to the halfway line, into the penalty area and past the keeper to secure all 3 points for the Burg (0-3).
Full time: Brading Town 0-3 Osborne Coburg
Brading Town: Morey, Warrington, Johnson, Knowles, Stead, I. Glynn, A. Bennett, Lawson, Vale (c), L. Bennett, Parsons Subs: L. Glynn, Fallone, Dallimer
Osborne Coburg: Williams, Davies, Kenning, Piper, Hatton, A. Cantello, N. Cantello, Phillipson, J. Cantello, H. Green, Reynolds Subs: Barnes, J. Green
After the game, winning Osborne Coburg manager John Sivier said:
“The boys have worked hard in training, this has paid off, and we are getting results. We are proving we are good enough for Division 1.”
The only other game to beat the weather in Harwoods Division 1 – Vectis v Shanklin – was abandoned in the 68th minute after Shanklin keeper Lawrence Chick broke his leg.
In Division 2…
East Cowes Sports 2-1 Niton Community
2nd-placed ECS beat Niton at the GKN Sports Ground courtesy of goals from Maca Barnes and Josh Richardson.
Newchurch 9-1 Seaview
The evergreen Keith Rust netted 4 times, Ciaran Gibson bagged a brace and Joe Books, Patrick Haxell and Charlie Stewart all scored a goal apiece as Newchurch knocked 9 past Seaview at Watery Lane.
Isle of Wight football results for Saturday 23rd November
Harwoods Division 1
Brading Town 0-3 Osborne Coburg
Vectis A-A Shanklin
Division 2
East Cowes Sports 2-1 Niton Community
Newchurch 9-1 Seaview
Combination 1
Binstead & COB Reserves 5-6 Osborne Coburg Reserves
Combination 2
Bembridge A A-A Osborne Coburg A
Niton Community Reserves 1-7 Ventnor A
Oakfield Reserves A-A Ryde Saints Reserves
