East Cowes Vics have won their first game of their Wessex League 1 campaign emphatically after a series of draws.
Wessex League 1: East Cowes Vics 5-0 Fleet Spurs
Vics were at close to full strength for the visit of the North Hampshire side, Fleet Spurs, with Ryan Gregory and Jamie Wright returning from suspensions. Jordan Chapman, who is injured, and Brandon Hayward, who is isolating because of Covid, were both missing from the East Cowes side’s starting line-up.
Fleet Spurs have had a difficult start to the season, lying bottom-of-the-table after losing every one of their games of the season so far. New Fleet Spurs manager, Scott Kemp, has had just 4 weeks to rebuild his side after retaining only 1 of 30 players from last year’s 1st team squad.
Vics began the game on the front foot. In only the 2nd minute of the game, Harrison Yates was bundled over just inside the Spurs penalty area. Ryan Gregory took the resulting penalty, sending Fleet keeper, Jack Coleman, the wrong way to give Vics an early lead (1-0).
Vics then had numerous chances to extend their lead. In the 23rd minute, Jamie Wright saw his 30-yard strike cannon off the crossbar. In the 39th minute, Toby Snow had a close range shot blocked by Coleman and a further effort cleared off the goal line by a Spurs defender.
Vics then doubled their lead 5 minutes before half time when Harri Catania directed a glancing header into the Spurs net from the middle of the penalty area (2-0)
HT: East Cowes Vics 2-0 Fleet Spurs
Vics carried on from where they had left off in the 1st half, creating numerous chances against a makeshift team that would most likely struggle in Island League football. In the 50th minute, Vics centre forward, Jimmi Burton, rounded the Spurs keeper then somehow contrived to send his shot wide when it would have been easier to score.
Toby Snow extended the Islander’s lead in the 61st minute when he picked up the ball in the middle of the Spurs half and drove the ball forward into the penalty area before side footing the ball past the Spurs keeper (3-0).
Jimmi Burton, who had wasted plentiful scoring opportunities up to this point in the game, then scored a 10-yard tap in goal set up by the unselfish Toby Snow (4-0).
At 4-0 down, Fleet Tempers began to fray, with Spurs full back Dale Small becoming increasingly vocal in his numerous complaints. Small was sinbinned after ignoring repeated requests from the referee to calm down. Despite being sinbinned, the Small continued to angrily voice his opinions and was shown a red card before clashing noisily with the dressing room door.
Winger Harrison Yates scored the final goal for Vics in the 3rd minute of injury time, sending a near post shot past the Fleet keeper from a tight angle to complete the rout of the North Hampshire side (5-0).
FT: East Cowes Vics 5-0 Fleet Spurs
East Cowes Vics: Steinborn-Busse, Turner, Wright, O. West, Gregory, Sullivan, Newbold, Snow, Burton, Catania, Yates Subs: Walsh, Marsek, White
Vics are now in 12th position in Wessex League 1 with 5 points from 4 games. On Monday (30th August) Vics face Newport at Beatrice Avenue. Kick off is at 15.00.
Vics assistant manager, Darren Arnold, who took charge of the team for the match against Fleet Spurs, said:
“We have a big month ahead of us. We face Newport, Bemerton, Eastleigh and possibly Cowes.
“Our game against Newport on Monday is the biggest of the season so far. Whether we can get a result from the derby just depends on what happens on the day. Newport are favourites for the league, and we are the underdogs. There is no pressure on us.
“But today was more important. We could have been 4 or 5 goals up at half time. Jimmi Burton is up with the division’s leading scorers with 6 goals from 4 games.”
Newport lost for the 1st time this season, 2-0 against Wiltshire side Downton. Defeat means Newport drop to 3rd place in the Wessex League 1 table with 12 points from 5 games, 3 points behind leaders, Folland Sports.
After the match, Newport co-manager, Stewart Shepherd spoke to Island Echo about Monday’s big Island derby against Vics. Stewart said:
“We are looking forward to this bank holiday derby game. I’m sure there will be a good crowd in attendance as there always is for this fixture. We will be approaching this game same as any other and be focused on giving it the best effort we can and if we do this, we will give ourselves every chance of coming away with 3 points.
“After today’s disappointing result we will be looking for a reaction from the team.”
Victory for the Port against Vics at Beatrice Avenue on Monday would see Newport return to the top spot in Wessex League 1.
Cowes Sports have won for the 1st time at home in the Wessex Premier League, beating Bournemouth 5-1. That man, John McKie, was on target yet again with another 4 goals to add to the 4 he scored midweek in the Hampshire Senior Cup tie against Christchurch. Captain Fin Phillips also scored for the Yachtsmen. McKie is now the leading scorer in the Wessex Premier League with 9 goals from 5 starts.
The Yachtsmen’s emphatic victory sees them move up to 4th place in the Wessex Premier League, just 2 points behind leaders Brockenhurst. Cowes next face Wessex League 1 outfit, Andover New Street, in the Wessex League Cup at Westwood Park on Tuesday. Kick-off is at 19.30.
