East Cowes Victoria were the only Isle of Wight Wessex League side to win – away to New Milton town – this afternoon (Saturday, 18th October).
With manager Alex Smith away, Stuart Simmonds took charge of the side. The Vics welcomed back Liam Newbold, Jamie Wright and Connor Kelly to the starting line-up, with George Holbrook, Charlie Hart and 16-year-old Travis Pitman among the substitutes.
Vics started brightly, with Jake Scrimshaw testing home goalkeeper Danny Dixon early on. Liam Triggs saw a header saved on 9 minutes before Josh Neale’s free kick flew just off target.
The visitors continued to press and went ahead on 19 minutes when Scrimshaw’s pinpoint cross found Liam Newbold, who powered home a header from close range (0-1).
Moments later, Jacob Reynolds’ volley was superbly stopped by Dixon as Vics searched for a second. New Milton’s only real first-half chance saw Nathan Gray denied by Alex Ram.
Half time: New Milton Town 0-1 East Cowes Victoria
The hosts improved after the restart and were awarded a penalty on 56 minutes when Jamie Wright was penalised in the box. Jack Broad’s spot-kick was saved by Ram, but the rebound fell kindly for Broad to level the score at 1-1.
Vics responded almost immediately. A minute later, Connor Kelly’s corner was met by Jacob Reynolds at the far post, and he bundled the ball home to restore the lead (1-2).
Ram produced a fine save on 68 minutes to keep Vics ahead, and the visitors controlled the game from then on. Connor Kelly went close late on, but Dixon was again equal to the effort.
Full time: New Milton Town 1-2 East Cowes Victoria
East Cowes Victoria: Ram, Snow, Newbold (c), Triggs, Jamie Wright, Chapman, Jake Wright, Reynolds, Kelly, Scrimshaw, J. Neale Subs: Coode, C. Neale, Hart, Holbrook, Pitman
Victory for the Victorians sees the East Cowes side rise 3 places in the table to 15th with 10 points from 10 games.
Vics are in action again on Tuesday evening when they face Hamble Club at Beatrice Avenue with kick off at 19:45.
PORT BEATEN FOR FIRST TIME IN EIGHT GAMES
Newport’s 8-game unbeaten run ended with defeat in Berkshire by Kintbury Rangers.
The game began promisingly for Port with Harry Taylor heading just over the crossbar in the 11th minute. However, a few minutes later Matt Benford was forced off the pitch to be replaced by new signing, Kudzi Mazambara. The away side then suffered a further blow with Ollie Linington coming off to be replaced by Jack Egerton-Read.
With neither side able to make the decisive breakthrough over the opening 45 minutes, the first half finished goalless.
Half time: Kintbury Rangers 0-0 Newport IW
Player-manager Joe Butcher had an early chance to put Port into the lead in the 50th minute but was denied by the keeper.
However, 2 quickfire goals in the 51st and 53rd minutes saw Port trailing by 2 goals.
Sam Kirby and Luca Weeks came on for Port, and the Island side came close to getting back in the game with Joe Butcher shooting at the Kintbury keeper and Harry Taylor heading a Jez Conway free kick over the crossbar, but the home side saw out the game to take all 3 points.
Full time: Kintbury Rangers 2-0 Newport IW
Newport IW: Pitman, Goldberg, Benford, Hancott, Watterson (c), Lamb, Linington, Walsh, Taylor, Conway, Butcher Subs: Kirby, Egerton-Read, Weeks, Mazambara, Wetherick
Port’s defeat leaves them 5th in Wessex Division 1 (the final playoff place) with 22 points from 12 games.
YACHTSMEN SUNK BY INJURY TIME PENALTY IN FA VASE
The only Isle of Wight representatives remaining in the FA Vase were defeated by a penalty awarded deep into injury time.
The Yachtsmen arrived late at the stadium in Kent forcing the kick off to be delayed by 10 minutes.
The game began with pressure form the home side, forcing 2 spectacular saves from Cowes keeper Ed Hatt.
However, the Yachtsmen came back into the game late in the first half, with Scott McFarlane twice shooting narrowly wide.
Half time: Bearsted 0-0 Cowes Sports
The Yachtsmen began the 2nd half on the front foot with George Carter-Knight narrowly missing the upright. The Island side were unlucky not to have been awarded a penalty when a Bearsted defender was booked for a foul that appeared to be inside the penalty area.
Bearsted got back into the game, with Hatt pulling off a pair of vital saves to prevent his team from falling behind.
10 minutes from full time, Bearsted went down to 10 men after one of their number was sinbinned.
But Cowes Sports were unable to take advantage of their extra player, with Bearsted being awarded a penalty in the 2nd minute of injury time, which was converted by Jake Embery.
Full time: Bearsted 1-0 Cowes Sports
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Hughes, Flood, Chase, Oatley, Colson, Carter-Knight, Phillips, Browne, McFarlane, Cruttenden Subs: Haward, Marsek, S. Backshall, Perrin, Berry
Cowes Sports are in action again on Tuesday (21st October) when they take on Hythe & Dibden at the Zilch Wate Stadium with kick off at 19:45.
