East Cowes Vics won a game at Beatrice Avenue at their 12th attempt on a day in which near-neighbours Newport topped Wessex Division 1 with a 6th successive victory.
Vics have shown consistent progress in the 5 games Alex Smith has been in charge: 2 defeats have been followed by a draw and now a brace of wins.
The win against Totton & Eling was the 1st time Smith has been able to put out his best side without any suspensions with the return of defender Liam Newbold; the East Cowes side has further been strengthened by the signing of former Newport and Cowes striker Aidan Radford.
Vics’ comprehensive victory began with a freak goal by Harrison Taylor, who managed to score direct from a corner on the quarter hour mark (1-0).
5 minutes later, Aidan Radford was denied what even the Totton & Eling players admitted after the game was a certain penalty when he was bundled over in the penalty area after a mix up between the Millers’ goalkeeper and a defender.
Overall, it was a good 1st half for Vics, marred only by bookings for the 2 Harrisons: Taylor and Yates.
Half time: East Cowes Vics 1-0 Totton & Eling
The 2nd half began with an impressive mazy run from teenage striker Charlie Marsek, who skilfully beat 2 defenders but failed to find the final touch.
Vics doubled their lead in the 65th minute when Henry West capitalized on a defensive error by the Millers to score from 6 yards (2-0).
Vics dominated the 2nd half with goalkeeper Alex Ram rarely troubled. Marsek added a 3rd goal for the home side when he converted a Toby Snow cross deep into injury time (3-0).
Full time: East Cowes Vics 1-0 Totton & Eling
Vics: Ram, Snow, Newbold (Greenslade), West, Chase (c), Taylor (Ashley), Cant, Lyon (Walsh), Radford (Flux), Yates, Marsek Sub (unused): Berry
After the game, manager Alex Smith said:
“I’m delighted for the lads. I’m more pleased for them than I am for myself. It’s been coming.
“We’re on a good little run. The players are better equipped to deal with adversity. We have a long way to go but are making steps in the right direction.
“When I came in, we had 5 players suspended. Now, no one is on a suspension.”
Smith – who has a degree in Sports’ Coaching – also says.
“I get advice from a sports’ psychologist. I favour a more collaborative approach. It’s more the players’ team than mine.
“Small behaviours can make a big difference. I need the players to be refreshed, positive and open to ideas.
“The team have to have faith in what they are doing and be passionate to represent what our opponents must see as a small team from the Isle of Wight.”
Vics remain 3rd-from-bottom after their win but now trail 17th-placed Ash United by only a single point with 2 games in hand.
PORT HIT TOP SPOT IN DIVISION 1
The County Town club are now 1st in Wessex Division 1 after knocking 4 goals past New Forest outfit Ringwood Town.
The Port attacked from the off, with Jordan Browne having a header knocked on to the crossbar by the Ringwood keeper in the 10th minute.
The Island side took the lead in the 18th when Joe Craig headed in a Jordan Chapman corner (0-1).
Craig hit the crossbar in the 63rd before bagging his brace 2 minutes later from another corner, this time delivered by Connor Kelly (0-2).
Jordan Browne was brought down in the penalty area in the 73rd; the resulting penalty was coolly converted by Connor Kelly (0-3).
Ji Nash added a 4th for the County Town club in the 78th (0-4).
Joe Craig was nominated as penalty taker 2 minutes from full time but failed in his attempt to score a hat trick by sending his spot kick high above the crossbar.
Full time: Ringwood Town 0-4 Newport (IoW)
Newport (IoW): Pitman, Hughes, Hancott, Triggs, Oatley (c), Barron, Kelly (Grandvoinet), Boyd-Kerr (Nash), Browne, Craig, Chapman (McDonough)
Port’s 9th away victory in 10 games puts them in top spot in Division 1, 2 points ahead of New Milton Town, who play at Millbrook tonight.
YACHTSMEN SUNK AT WATERSIDE
Cowes Sports failed to maintain the momentum of their 0-3 victory at Bournemouth on Saturday, going down 2-0 at Hythe & Dibden.
Hythe opened the scoring in the 32nd minute when a quickly taken free kick caught the Island side asleep for Craig Feeney to slot the ball past Ed Hatt (1-0).
Ben Slade added a 2nd for the home side in the 75th with a free header (2-0).
The Yachtsmen put in a good performance with John McKie and Jez Conway going close but failed to convert their chances.
Full time: Hythe & Dibden 2-0 Cowes Sports
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Conway, Dempsey, Catania (Mumford), West, McFarlane, C. Neale (Laird), Hayward, Wetherick (Perrin), McKie (c), Phillips Subs: Coode, Farley (gk)
The Yachtsmen’s defeat leaves them precariously placed in 18th place, just 1 point ahead of Pagham in the drop zone.
