East Cowes Vics, the last senior Isle of Wight side left in any cup competition, bowed out of the Wessex League Cup at Beatrice Avenue on Tuesday evening, losing 0-2 to Wessex League 1 leaders Folland Sports in the 3rd round.
Newport were knocked out of the Wessex League in the 1st round, losing 5-0 to Wessex Premier League leaders Horndean; Cowes were knocked out in the 2nd round, beaten 3-4 at Westwood Park by Andover New Street; East Cowes Vics beat Wessex Premier side Alton 4-0 at Beatrice Avenue in the 1st round, then won 0-3 away to bottom-of-Division 1 side Fleet Spurs.
Vics began the game without prolific striker Jimmi Burton, who had to attend a funeral on the mainland, but returned in time to play in the 2nd half. Jamie Wright was also absent through suspension. Folland Sports were without 5 1st team regulars.
The 1st half saw a somewhat lacklustre performance from league leaders Folland Sports, who had plenty of possession and chances, but little cutting edge up front. Vics’ best chance fell to Brandon Hayward, who headed just over the crossbar in the 38th minute.
The Planemakers became increasingly frustrated by their inability to score against a stubborn Vicsside, leading to bookings for Connor Rowe and Leon Barker. Brandon Hayward also picked up a yellow card for Vics.
In the 56th minute, Vics goalkeeper Alex Ram pulled off a spectacular double save, first blocking a fierce strike from Sheibatzabeh, then a header from Southerden.
The visitors made their breakthrough in the 59th minute when an unmarked Joe Southerden headed the ball into an open Vics goal (0-1). 2 minutes later, Fabio Manuel added a 2nd goal for the Planemakers with a shot into the far corner of the goal (0-2). Vics were lucky not to be trailing by 3 goals when Henry West cleared the ball off the goal line in the 71st minute, and a further strike from Sheibatzabeh hit the upright 10 minutes later.
The closest Vics came to scoring was through a 75th minute effort by Harrison Yates that went over the crossbar. However, Vics never looked likely to pull back a 2-goal deficit against a far stronger side.
FT: East Cowes Vics 0-2 Folland Sports
East Cowes Vics: Ram, Turner, White, West. Newbold, Catania, Chapman, Yates, Marsek, Gregory, Hayward Subs: Woodford, Burton, Snow, Jones, Berry
This Saturday (13th November) Vics, who currently lie 18th in Wessex Division 1, play Petersfield at Beatrice Avenue. Kick off is at the usual time of 15.00.
Saturday’s match-of-the-day in Wessex Division 1 is at Smallbrook Stadium, where 3rd-placed Newport take on leaders Folland Sports in a game that may help decide the destination of the championship.
The Port have won all 5 games they have played on the Isle of Wight in the season so far, scoring at an average of 5 goals a game.
Newport’s management team of Steve Brougham and Stewart Shepherd were present at Beatrice Avenue on Tuesday but were tight-lipped on the Port’s prospects of overcoming the league leaders, Stewart simply saying: “It will be a good game.”
Due to floodlight problems at Smallbrook Stadium, kick off for the match against Folland Sports will be at the earlier time of 14:00. Minibus transit will be provided for fans from the site of the former St George’s Park ground, leaving at 13:00.
Island Echo understands progress is being made on the development of Newport’s former St George’s Park stadium, with the coach company and motorcycle training school currently occupying the car park being given notice to quit by the end of the year. The development of Newport’s proposed new ground at the Racecourse, Whippingham, is dependent on progress at the site at St George’s Park.
In the Wessex Premier, 13th-placed Cowes Sports have a short trip across the Solent to face 9th-placed Blackfield & Langley, a side that beat the Yachtsmen 5-1 in the Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Cup in August. The Island side will be hoping for a better result this time round with the return to full fitness of 2 of their most influential players: John McKie and Fin Phillips.
Wessex League fixtures for Saturday, 13th November 2021:
Wessex Premier Division: Blackfield & Langley v Cowes Sports (15.00)
Wessex Division 1: East Cowes Vics v Petersfield Town (15.00); Newport IoW v FollandSports (14.00)
Isle of Wight fixtures for Saturday 13th November 2021
All Fixtures to Kick-Off at 14.00
Harwoods Renault IOW Saturday League Division 1: Binstead & COB v Whitecroft & Barton Sports; Brading Town v Ryde Saints; Cowes Sports Reserves v Shanklin; Niton Community v Northwood St Johns; Oakfield v Bembridge; Sandown & Lake v West Wight; No Fixture: Vectis
Division 2: Adgestone v Pan Community;Carisbrooke United v Newport Reserves;Newchurch v East Cowes Vics Reserves; Seaview v East Cowes Sports; Ventnor v High Park;Wroxall v Osborne Coburg; Yarmouth & Calbournev AFC Wootton
Combination Division 1: Bembridge v Ryde Saints; Northwood St Johns v Sandown & Lake;Osborne Coburg v Brading Town; Shanklin v Binstead & COB; Whitecroft & Barton Sports v West Wight; No Fixture:Oakfield
Combination Division 2: AFC Wootton v Newchurch; Bembridge ‘A’ v Carisbrooke United;East Cowes Sports v Niton Community; Pan Community v Ventnor; Vectis v Yarmouth & Calbourne
