Shanklin have won the Isle of Wight Division 1 title by beating Brading Town 1-5 in front of a 400+ crowd at the Peter Henry Ground on Saturday (14th May).
Earlier in the season, Shanklin Ladies lifted the Hampshire County Division 1 Trophy. The seaside town side are still in contention for 2 further trophies: the Memorial and Challenge cups.
Shanklin’s win has ended Whitecroft & Barton’s long reign as Isle of Wight champions. Had the Blues failed to secure 3 points against Brading, W&B would have taken the Division 1 title for the 7th season in succession.
Shanklin were bolstered by the inclusion of 3 regular Wessex League players: Neo Lamb (Newport) at full back, Ji Nash (Cowes) as No. 8, and Vics’ Ryan Gregory on the substitutes’ bench.
Playing up the slope, Shanklin began brightly by forcing 2 good saves from Brading goalkeeper Ben Gearing. However, it was Brading who took a shock lead in the 3rd minute through a close-range Todd Connor volley from a corner (1-0).
The Seasiders responded with Nicky Vyse missing a sitter and Kyle Drew shooting past the upright. In the 21st minute, George Carter-Knight equalised for the Blues with a 20-yard free-kick (1-1).
Shanklin continued to press with Ji Nash being put through in the 27th minute but only able to direct the ball at Brading goalkeeper Gearing. 10 minutes later, Jamie Hanmore was forced to head a Shanklin goal attempt off the goal line. In the 36th minute, Kyle Drew shot just wide. However, it wasn’t all 1-way traffic for the championship contenders with Dan Vale shooting past the upright 5 minutes from the half time break.
Half time: Brading Town 1-1 Shanklin
Whereas the 1st half had been a competitive contest, the Blues playing down the slope proved unstoppable in an impressive 2nd half performance.
Ji Nash broke free a couple of times early in the 2nd half, shooting past the post and having a further attempt deflected by Gearing. However, Macca Watterson rose above the Roman’s defence from the resulting corner to head the Seasiders into the lead in the 55th minute (1-2).
6 minutes later, Kyle Drew sent a near post volley crashing into the Brading goal to give the championship contenders a 2-goal cushion (1-3).
In the 71st minute, Shanklin centre forward Nicky Vyse set up Drew to score his 2nd from the edge of the penalty area (1-4).
Finally, in the 83rd minute, Jordan Cook had a shot parried by Gearing, which fell for Cory Sanderson to score a poacher’s goal for the visitors (1-5).
Full time: Brading Town 1-5 Shanklin
Brading Town: Gearing, Page, Connor, Ranson, Hanmore, D. Stuver, Lawson, Oatley, Vale, Collins, Youngson Subs: Sayers, F, Stuver, Shaw
Shanklin: Ward, Wilson, Lamb, Watterson, Newnham, Seabrook, Young, Nash, Vyse, Drew, Carter-Knight Subs: Cook, Sanderson, Gregory
After the game, Brading manager Steve Lawton said:
“Well done to all at Shanklin FC: a table doesn’t lie and the best team over the season sits at the top.
“As for my boys: we have given what we had and on the day it wasn’t enough. Shanklin’s 2nd half performance was outstanding, and I have no complaints.
“Back to the team, after losing over half a team at the end of last season to do what we’ve done is outstanding.
“Never able to field the same side twice – 2 1/4s, 1 Hants Cup semi, and a cup final to come. To finish 4th after being 3rd from bottom in November was a great effort.”
Steve had been angered by suggestions that his side would not give their all in their final league fixture. However, no fair observer at Saturday’s game would claim that the Romans did not battle hard against Shanklin throughout the 90 minutes.
Shanklin manager Paul Haward said:
“We deserved the win. We responded well to going a goal behind. You go out at the start of the season to win the league. Any cup victories are a bonus.”
Shanklin face Brading Town once again in the final of the Memorial Cup at Beatrice Avenue on Tuesday evening (17th May). The following Tuesday (24th May) Shanklin play W&B at the Peter Henry ground in the final of the Challenge Cup.
In other games …
Challenge Cup semi-final
Binstead & COB 1-1 Whitecroft & Barton
(Whitecroft & Barton win 4-3 on penalties)
Whitecroft & Barton have set up a fitting finale to the season by beating Binstead at the Molehill on penalties to face this season’s Division 1 champions Shanklin. Ashley Smith was on target for Binstead, and W&B’s goal came courtesy of Aidan Sainsbury.
Ryde Saints 1-2 West Wight
West Wight climbed 2 places in their final game to finish 6th by beating Saints at Smallbrook. Ryde end their season 2nd-from-bottom, but with only 1 team being relegated from Division 1, retain their status in the top division.
Well done to Shanklin winning the league and Brading for turning their season around.