East Cowes Victoria have joined local rivals Cowes Sports in the Wessex Premier League after defeating Frimley Green on penalties in the Wessex Division 1 playoffs final.
Vics had previously never achieved promotion in their entire history as a Wessex League club. Winning at Frimley was a big ask as the Surrey side had gone 19 months unbeaten at home.
Frimley were bolstered by former Aldershot Town, Barnet, Tranmere Rovers and Bromley footballer Adam Mekki in their squad. The Victorians were given a lift by the passionate support and belief of over 100 travelling fans.
The home side came out of the blocks fast and had a strong shot deflected just wide on 5 minutes, after which Nick Thumbwood had a goal attempt saved by Alex Ram on 13 minutes.
Vics struggled to create chances, although an on target strike from Scott Jones was blocked in the 15th minute, and Gareth Bricknell had a 25th minute free kick saved by the Frimley keeper.
Half time: Frimley Green 0-0 East Cowes Victoria
The Victorians were forced to make changes at the start of the 2nd half after an injury to captain Liam Newbold. Jacob Reynolds dropped to centre back and substitute Kudzi Mazambara went into central midfield.
Vics took the lead on 48 minutes when a half clearance fell to Elliot Wheeler, who dispatched a curling strike into the corner of the net (0-1).
Frimley then went on the offensive, with the heroics of Vics keeper Alex Ram keeping the Island side in the game with a hat trick of saves in the 51st, 55th and 71st minutes.
Frimley continued to press, with Ram again making further vital saves in the 85th and 86th minutes.
It now looked like it wasn’t going to be Frimley’s day but – in the 94th minute – an Adam Mekki corner swung straight in to the Vics goal to the delight of the majority of the 570 spectators present (1-1).
With a minute of added time remaining, Vics manager Alex Smith played his final trump card by substituting Alex Ram for specialist penalty stopper Fraser Law and Kudzi Mazambara by dead ball expert Zak Sullivan (who wasn’t called into action) to give the Isle of Wight side the edge in the looming penalty shoot out.
Full time: Frimley Green 1-1 East Cowes Victoria
And so to penalties…
Acting Vics captain Harrison Yates won the toss and elected to take the first penalty himself, which he stepped up to hammer home (0-1). Frimley’s 1st penalty taker struck the upright.
Rafferty Boyd- Kerr converted the 2nd Vics penalty without mishap (0-2). Frimley scored their 2nd (1-2)
Vics’ Elliott Wheeler placed his penalty well (1-3). Fraser Law saved Frimley’s 3rd (1-3).
In the final spot kick, Jacob Reynolds sent the keeper the wrong way (1-4) to secure victory and promotion for the Victorians, provoking wild scenes of jubilation from the travelling fans.
Penalties: Frimley Green 1-4 East Cowes Victoria
East Cowes Victoria: Ram, Snow, Yates, Newbold (c), Wheeler, Boyd-Kerr, Reynolds, Coode, Jones, Bricknell, J. Neale Subs: Sullivan, Mazambara, Hart, C. Neale, Law Man-of-the match: Alex Ram
After the game, Wessex Premier manager Alex Smith commented:
“The standard of the game was absolutely awful. It looked like a relegation battle out there.
“Frimley did what we expected. They got a lot of balls into the box. They built a lot of pressure. But the lads stood up to it incredibly well.
“Alex Ram really hates me for the moment. He was man-of-the-match for me. He was unbelievable.
“It was a very difficult decision to make that change (substituting Ram for Law). But we relied on a squad all year. And Fraser being in the shootout I felt was a dice worth rolling.
“He’s been in shootouts up and down the country and never lost one.”
Alex added:
“I’m pleased for the lads. Mine’s the easy job.
“Forget ability and talent. If you’re willing to dig that deep with your mates, it’s what you deserve.
“The number of people that made their way here today from the Island is phenomenal. That summarises how much the lads have galvanised the community.”
On Saturday (10th May), East Cowes Victoria take on fellow Wessex Premier side Cowes Sports in the final of the Isle of Wight Senior (Gold) Cup.
When asked whether Vics can achieve a promotion and cup double, Alex replied:
“Definitely”
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