In the only Wessex League fixture to be played on the Island this Saturday (3rd September), Vics drew with 2nd-placed Andover Town at Beatrice Avenue.
In what was a game of 2 halves, Vics soaked up 1st half pressure from the Bluebirds to trail by a single goal at the half time break before turning on the style in a confident 2nd half display to earn a draw.
Vics did not manage a single shot on target during the 1st half nor won a corner. The Bluebirds began the game on the front foot with Malachi Johnson forcing a good save from Ram in the 5th minute. In the 16th minute, Ram again came to the rescue of the home side when he fisted a Brendan Holmes free kick over the crossbar. On the half-hour mark, Malachi succeeded in lobbing Ram, but Vics full back Kade Woodford successfully prevented the Andover forward from scoring with a last-ditch tackle.
Ram was finally beaten in the 33rd minute through a freak goal from Bluebirds’ captain Holmes when a scuffed free kick bounced over his body (0-1). Andover came close to scoring a 2nd 5 minutes later when the ball rolled across Ram’s goal line, but winger Ben Means was unable to convert the chance at the far post.
Half time: East Cowes Vics 0-1 Andover Town
The first 2nd-half chance for Vics came in the 52nd minute when centre forward Sam Cant had a near post shot stopped by former Vics keeper Karl Steinborn-Busse. 7 minutes later, Ant Kettell forced Steinborn-Busse to make a full stretch save. In the 66th minute, Charlie Marsek was just unable to convert a Sam Cant cross at the far post.
The breakthrough for Vics came 10 minutes from full time when Harrison Yates first lobbed Steinborn-Busse then dispatched the ball into the Andover Town net (1-1).
5 minutes from full time came a controversial incident that led to both sides being reduced to 10 men. Conor Lyon clashed with Andover substitute Quadus Ogunychi in an incident in which the Vics midfielder was alleged to have grabbed his opponent by the throat to which Ogunychi was judged to have responded with a head butt, leading to both players grappling with each other on the ground.
Vics had a lucky escape 4 minutes into injury time when Bluebirds’ centre forward Matty Morris struck the upright with a powerful shot.
Full time: East Cowes Vics 1-1 Andover Town
East Cowes Vics: Ram, Snow, Woodford, Walsh, Berry, H. Yates, Chapman (c), Lyon, Cant, Kettell (Barros), Marsek Subs not used: J. Yates, Kilroy, Lacey, Flux
After the game, Vics manager Richie Woodburn said:
“Andover started well, but we were dogged. We may not be as good as them football-wise, but in the 2nd half our fitness levels started to show.”
Vics’ draw leaves them in 12th place in Wessex League 1 with 6 points from 5 games, 1 place below local rivals Newport who have 6 points from 3 games.
DOWNTON 0-3 NEWPORT IW
Newport impressively beat Wessex Division 1 leaders Downton in Wiltshire.
Joe Butcher opened the scoring for the County Town club by converting a George Colson cross inside the first 10 minutes of the game (1-0). Jordan Brown then extended the Port’s lead by dispatching a Josh Younie free kick into the back of the net (0-2) to give the Island side a 2-goal advantage at half time.
The Port further extended their lead in the 2nd half through a Connor Kelly strike in the 55th minute (0-3). Any hopes Downton may have had of getting back in the game were dashed when they were reduced to 10 men after their goalkeeper was sent off for an off-the-ball incident.
Newport IW: Pitman, Colson, Lamb, Barron, Sampson, Triggs, Kelly, Nancott, Browne, Younie, Butcher Subs: Wetherick, Craig, Smith, McCormack (gk)
FAREHAM TOWN 7-2 COWES SPORTS
The Yachtsmen were comprehensively beaten at Cam Alders by a free-scoring Fareham side.
Cowes conceded 2 in the 1st half before Fin Phillips pulled a goal back through a curling shot 1 minute into the 2nd half. However, any hopes the Yachtsmen may have had of getting anything from the game were dashed when the Creeksiders knocked in a further 5 goals in a 2nd half rout. Harrison Dempsey also struck a consolation goal for the Island side.
Cowes Sports: Hatt, White, Dempsey, H. West. Perrin, Conway, Mumford, Hayward, Ahmed, Phillips (c), Nash Subs: Laird, Wykes, Fashira, Jackson
Cowes Sports’ defeat leaves them in 17th place in the Wessex Premier with 3 points from 3 games.
