ROMANS VANQUISH EAST COWES VICS IN THRILLING GOLD CUP QUARTER FINAL

Isle of Wight League Brading Town have reached the semi finals of the Isle of Wight Senior (Gold) Cup by beating Wessex League East Cowes Vics on penalties on Thursday evening. The Romans’ hero was goalkeeper Harry Mitchell, who scored the final (11th) penalty for his side after the outfield players could not be separated in their spot kick attempts. Brading took just 30 seconds to start the game with a goal advantage after a misunderstanding between Vics goalkeeper Alex Ram and his centre backs, following which Dan Vale intercepted the ball to give the Harwoods League side a shock lead (0-1). The visitors Scott Lawson was then unlucky not to double Brading’s lead in the 5th minute, forcing Ram to save at full stretch. Vics equalised in the 6th minute when a goalmouth scramble in the Brading area was pounced on by Liam Newbold to score from close range (1-1).

3 minutes later, Vics took the lead after Mitchell could only parry an effort from Jake Wright but Josh Neale was on hand to smash the ball high into the net (2-1). The Wessex League side were now dominant but failed to extend their lead with goal attempts from Neale, Marsek and Hart all failing to hit the target. The Romans appeared dangerous on the counter and in the 43nd minute, a cross from Dan Vale found Liam Bennett at the far post, who prodded the ball past Ram (2-2). Brading then regained the lead in the final minute of the 1st half after a mistake from Newbold gave Aaron Bennett the opportunity to score with style (2-3).

Half time: East Cowes Vics 2-3 Town Vics were awarded a penalty within a minute of the restart when Josh Neale was brought down by Mitchell, and referee Jones pointed straight to the spot. Jake Wright stepped up to place the spot kick high into the corner of the goal (3-3). The East Cowes side dominated the remainder of the 2nd half, creating openings without finding the final ball with chances for Hart, Marsek, Nash and Conway all going astray. Brading defended resolutely to reach the end of the 90 minutes on level terms.

Full Time: East Cowes Vics 3-3 Brading Town And so to penalties… Brading scored their 1st 4 spot kicks and with Vics missing their 3rd, it fell to Dan Vale to try to score the decisive goal for Brading, but his effort sailed over the crossbar; Brad Young then netted to take the shootout to sudden death. Euan Hutchinson sent the 6th spot kick over the crossbar; Mitchell saved Sam Kirby’s penalty. With the score at 7-7, Brading manager Will Dalimar dispatched his penalty into the netting behind the goal, leaving Ted Mumford to attempt to win the game for Vics, but his effort also went high into the sky. With all the outfield players having taken their kicks, it was left to the goalkeepers – Brading’s Harry Mitchell and Vics’ Alex Ram – to settle the tie. Brading keeper Mitchell made no mistake from the penalty spot, then dived to his right and pushed Ram’s effort round the post to finally win the game for the Romans.

Penalties: East Cowes Vics 7-8 Brading Town East Cowes Vics: Ram, Young, Mumford, Newbold, Chase (c), Chapman, Coode, Wright, Marsek, Hart, Neale Subs: Kirby, Glynn, Conway, Nash, Reynolds Brading Town: Mitchell, Strickland, Glynn, Knowles, Dalimar, Hutchinson, A. Bennett, Lawson, Vale (c), L. Bennett, Lomas Subs: Shaw, Apter, Dyer