In the bottom-of-the-table ‘6 point’ clash at Beatrice Avenue, East Cowes Vics vanquished the only side below them in the Wessex League One table, Folland Sports, to record their first home league win of the season.
Vics made 2 changes to their starting line up to the side that had earned a creditable away draw at Downton 2 weeks ago, with Macauley Waterson replacing Harry Catania in midfield and the talented winger Eli Ahmed taking the place of Tyler Greenslade.
The home side showed their attacking intent right from the very start of the game when Macauley Waterson narrowly missed an open goal after failing to connect with a cross from Eli Ahmed in the 2nd minute. Then, Ahmed himself nearly gave Vics a goal advantage, when his low shot grazed off the Folland post in the 8th minute.
However, despite Vics dominating the game, the away side were a threat on the break, with Josh Ball hitting the post for the visitors in the 11th minute, and then forcing a good save from Vics’ keeper, Steinborn-Busse, in the 24th minute.
Burly striker, Jez Conway had his chances for the home side, forcing a save from Folland’s keeper, Ash Downs in the 14th minute and failing to connect with another Ahmed cross in the 25th minute. Defender, Henry West made a fantastic run in the 32nd minute, taking the ball past several defenders from the halfway line to the Planemaker’s penalty area, but, with only their keeper to beat, put the ball wide.
Disaster nearly struck for Vics in the 34th minute, when the visitor’s Callum Crothy found himself clear, but missed an open goal. In the last clear chance of the first half, Jordan Chapman forced a good save from the excellent Folland’s keeper, Ash Downs.
HT: East Cowes Vics 0-0 Folland Sports
The second half began well for Vics when Eli Ahmed broke through on the left of the penalty area to connect with Jimmi Burton, who dispatched the ball into the Planemaker;s net from a few yards out, Valiant Folland’s keeper, Ash Downs, kept the away side in the game by saving from Jimmi Burton in the 55th and 64th minutes. He once again prevented Vics from going further into the lead by acrobatically saving from Vics substitute, Brandon Hayward, in the 75th minute.
The pressure was telling on the beleaguered Planemakers, who had already had a number of their players booked, leading to midfielder, Musah Stambori, being sent off for a second yellow for a foul just outside the Vics penalty area.
The game drew to a close in much the same manner as it had begun, with livewire Eli Ahmed forcing a good save off the superb Folland’s keeper, Ash Downs, in the 83rd minute, then failing to convert a further golden opportunity in the final minute of the game.
FT: East Cowes Vics 1-0 Folland Sports
East Cowes Vics: Steinborn-Busse. H West. Newbold, Gregory, O West, Waterson, Chapman, Kirby (Hayward), Burton,, Conway, Ahmed Subs not used: Greenslade, Furness, Walsh, Hunt
After the match, Vics manager, Richie Woodburn, said:
“We won and kept a clean sheet. The result is what is important. It was great to have the first home win of the season. I want positive statistics. Since I came in, we have won 2, drawn 2 and
lost 2. This is mid-table form.“It was a scrappy game with a nervous, young side, but we got over the line. We dominated from start to finish, but they dragged us down to their level. Their keeper was man-of-the-match.
We need a bit more composure in the last third.“We’ve been training hard and putting the lads under pressure. If you’re fit, you’ve got a chance. Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work.”
On Saturday 4th January, Vics face mid-table Whitchurch United at Beatrice Avenue. Kick-off is at 15:00.
