The 2 Isle of Wight Wessex Premier sides – East Cowes Victoria and Cowes Sports – have yet to beaten this season, but Port suffered their 2nd loss in 2 games in Wessex Division 1.
VICS FIRE BLANKS AT BEMERTON
East Cowes Victoria welcomed Bemerton Heath Harlequins to Beatrice Avenue for their first ever Wessex Premier league game.
Having pushed Bashley close in the FA Cup last week, the home side were in confident mood.
Vics manager Alex Smith started new signings Jake Wright and Connor Kelly. However, injuries had struck the squad hard with George Holbrook, Charlie Hart, Aedan Coode and Jordan Chapman not fully fit.
Before the game, Josh Neale was rewarded for making his 100th appearance for Vics.
Vics started confidently with chances for Elliott Wheeler on 3 and 4 minutes just wide of the target. Vics ‘scored’ on 7 minutes, but Josh Neale was flagged offside. Raff Boyd-Kerr was unlucky on 9 minutes, but his snapshot sailed over.
Bemerton keeper Harry Dillon pulled off a vital save from Josh Neale on 11 minutes; Connor Kelly shot agonisingly over 7 minutes later; Elliot Wheeler and Josh Neale had further efforts thwarted by the Bemerton No 1.
Vics were dominant for the remainder of the first half. On 35 minutes, a goalbound Jacob Reynolds strike was deflected just over and on the stroke of half time, a desperate lunge from Dillon prevented ‘Yak’ from heading Vics into the lead.
Half time: East Cowes Victoria 0-0 Bemerton Heath Harlequins
Vics came out for the 2nd half still looking hungry for the win, with Josh Neale having a shot blocked, Raff Boyd-Kerr and Toby Snow seeing efforts cleared off the line, and Harrison Yates sending a 25-yard goal attempt just wide.
Substitute Caleb Neale then had 2 great chances to break the deadlock but failed to punish the Salisbury side. Vics continued to push hard for the 3 points, bringing on Zak Sullivan, Kudzi Mazambara and Adam Voller, but again chances weren’t taken, and Bemerton hung on for a hard fought point.
Full time: East Cowes Victoria 0-0 Bemerton Heath Harlequins
East Cowes Victoria: Ram, Snow, Yates, Newbold (c), Triggs, Wheeler, Wright, Boyd-Kerr, J. Neale, Reynolds, Kelly Subs: Sullivan, Mazambara, C. Neale, Chapman, Voller Man-of-the-match: Liam Triggs
The Victorians next face Alton in the Hampshire Senior Cup at Beatrice Avenue on Tuesday evening. Kick off is at 19:45.
YACHTSMEN MAINTAIN WINNING START TO LEAGUE CAMPAIGN
Striker Charlie Marsek bagged a brace as Cowes Sports beat Bournemouth Poppies to go 3rd in the Wessex Premier.
The Yachtsmen were unable to break down a resolute Poppies defence in the first half despite the best efforts of captain John Mckie.
Jordan Cook came close to breaking the deadlock for the home side, but a defender beat him to a McKie cross on the quarter hour mark. 7 minutes later, Ryan Hughes had a shot cleared off the line after pouncing on a McKie shot spilled by the Poppies keeper. Cook had a further chance to break the deadlock for when put through by McKie but was ruled offside.
Half time: Cowes Sports 0-0 Bournemouth Poppies
The Yachtsmen began the 2nd half brightly with Jimmy Mumford having a shot blocked and Charlie Marsek a header saved.
The breakthrough for Cowes came close to the hour mark when Ryan Hughes set up Marsek to knock the ball over the onrushing keeper before passing it into the empty net (1-0).
Marsek then grabbed a 2nd goal in the 71st minute after having been set up by Hughes (2-0).
Fin Phillips killed the game as a contest 10 minutes from full time when he danced round 2 players before placing the ball in the top left of the goal (3-0).
Jake Adams scored a consolation goal for the visitors 7 minutes from full time (3-1).
Full time: Cowes Sports 3-1 Bournemouth Poppies
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Hughes, Mumford, Perrin, Oatley, Colson, McKie (c), Phillips, McFarlane, Cook, Marsek Subs: Carter-Knight, Haward, Flood, Long, Backshall Man-of-the-match: Charlie Marsek
Cowes Sports next face Tadley Calleva in the Hampshire Senior Cup at the Zilch Waste Stadium. Kick off is at 19:45.
DÉJÀ VU DEFEAT FOR NEWPORT AT ASH UNITED
Newport travelled north to Ash United for their 2nd league outing, but any hopes of a revival were dashed as they slipped to a second successive defeat.
Port found themselves 2 goals down inside the opening stages. A deep cross in the 7th minute sparked confusion, ending with the ball headed into their own net (1-0). Moments later, Ash doubled the lead, the lively Chivers finishing crisply across Leon into the far corner (2-0).
5 minutes before the break, Newport were gifted a lifeline when Ash returned the own-goal favour (2-1). But just as momentum threatened to shift, Newport pressed the self-destruct button again, conceding a needless penalty 2 minutes before half-time with the Ash striker heading nowhere in particular. The spot kick was dispatched by Tommy Whitby (3-1).
Half time: Ash United 3-1 Newport IW
The 2nd half never sparked. Other than one outstanding save from Leon, the match dissolved into a midfield stalemate, with Ash content to sit back and Newport unable to build any real pressure. Late on, the referee injected brief drama with a mandatory sin-bin for Macauley Watterson, followed by a flurry of yellow cards, before bringing proceedings to a weary close.
This was far from the start Newport wanted – in results or performances – but a club spokesman stated:
“Their task now is to keep working, keep believing, and hope the tide turns sooner rather than later.”
Full time: Ash United 3-1 Newport IW
Newport IW: Pitman, Hancott, Thompsett, Lamb, West, Watterson, Grace, Young, Oatley, Butcher, Nash Subs: Egerton-Read, Benford, Kirby, Walsh
