Ventnor FC beat AFC Wootton to lift the Junior A Cup on a sodden pitch at Beatrice Avenue on Thursday evening and complete a league and cup double.
Despite the 5-1 scoreline, there were chances for both sides in an open and entertaining contest.
Ventnor began on the front foot with Charlie Urry having a shot stopped by Joe Throp after being put through by Robert Gee in the 4th minute. Wootton responded shortly after with a header going just over the crossbar.
The South Wight side took the lead in the 10th minute through the head of Simon Crates from a corner from the right (1-0).
In the 17th minute, Wootton had a strong penalty appeal turned down after a foul on Nick Antsey.
In the 21st minute, Ventnor’s Martin Barrow had a close-range shot parried by the feet of Throp. Barrow scored direct from the subsequent corner (2-0).
Wootton were temporarily reduced to 10 men in the 23rd minute when Harry Green was sinbinned.
Wootton ended the half with a couple of scoring opportunities. First, Maca Barnes had a shot saved by Gifford when clean through. Then, Harry Green wasted an opportunity to reduce the deficit to 1 goal by shooting wide 2 minutes before the halftime break.
Half time: Ventnor 2-0 AFC Wootton
Wootton returned in the 2nd half determined to claw back the 2-goal deficit. Full-back Dan Busbridge had a shot stopped by Gifford in the 47th minute before Harry Green sent a rocket into the roof of the Ventnor net (2-1).
However, any thoughts of a Wootton comeback were dashed when Charlie Urry had a shot parried by Throp in the 53rd only for Adam Clark to blast the loose ball into the back of the Wootton net (3-1).
Wootton came back strongly in the closing stages of the contest with a disallowed goal and strikes from Harris Payne and Harry Green stopped by Gifford.
In the final minute of full-time play, Martin Barrow killed the game as a contest by bagging his brace (4-1). Man-of-the-match Charlie Urry then rubbed salt into Wootton wounds in injury time by beating a defender before dispatching the ball into an open goal (5-1).
Full time: Ventnor 5-1 AFC Wootton
Ventnor: Gifford, S. Gee, Pomrey, Crates, Jupp, Barrow, Clark, Groundsell, Urry, R. Gee, Sargent Subs: Squires, Buckley, Franklin
Wootton: Throp, Busbridge, Nolan, Sleight, Westmore, Collier, Renouf, Payne, Antsey, Green, Barnes Subs: Kingston, Sumpter, Fryer
After the game, Ventnor said (via their Facebook page):
“Massive thanks to East Cowes Vics for your hospitality. Well done to all the officials. Well played Wootton FC but, most of all, thank you to all of you that came out and supported us.”
Wootton have said (also via Facebook):
“Just not our night tonight. Congratulations to Ventnor on the win, and we all wish them luck in Division 1 next season.”
“Our boys should be proud of themselves. They deserved better for the hard work put in this season, but we will be back.”
