All 3 Isle of Wight Wessex League sides were in action today, with East Cowes Victoria producing a superb second-half comeback, Newport earning a valuable away point and Cowes Sports suffering defeat.
VICS TURN IT AROUND AFTER FIRST-HALF STRUGGLE
East Cowes Victoria recovered from a difficult opening 45 minutes to claim a 3-1 victory at Wincanton Town in the Wessex Premier.
The Wasps thought they had taken the lead on 30 minutes, but officials spotted a push by Beckey before he headed home and the effort was ruled out.
Two minutes later, the breakthrough did arrive. Beckey squared for Williams, who powered a bullet header beyond George Bridi (1-0).
Wincanton controlled much of the first half and could easily have extended their lead.
Half Time: Wincanton Town 1-0 East Cowes Victoria
The Vics emerged with renewed intensity. On 49 minutes, a scramble in the box saw the ball ricochet kindly for Connor Kelly, who bundled home the equaliser (1-1).
Confidence surged through the visitors and on 73 minutes, Charlie Hart put them ahead as Wincanton struggled to clear sustained pressure (1-2).
With the Wasps pushing forward deep into stoppage time, substitute Travis Pitman broke clear to add a decisive third (1-3).
Full Time: Wincanton Town 1-3 East Cowes Victoria
East Cowes Victoria: Bridi, Snow, Wheeler, Triggs, Yates, Chapman, Coode, Wright (c), Hart, Kelly, Wrag. Subs: Roberts, Foster, Wye, Jackson, Pitman.
After the game, manager Alex Smith said:
“It was a very, very poor performance first half – probably one of the worst in memory. We were very fortunate to go in only one behind – they could have been 2 or 3 up.
We answered the questions unbelievably well second half – it was a top performance. Physically, we found another level, we made better chances on the ball and provided a real threat.”
Victory lifts the Vics to 12th in the Wessex Premier with 30 points from 22 games. On Tuesday 3rd March, they face 2nd-placed Hamble at Beatrice Avenue, kick-off 19:45.
CRAIG STRIKES AGAIN AS PORT HOLD FIRM
Newport IW secured a 1-1 draw at Lymington Town in Wessex Division 1 after a much-improved second-half display.
Lymington had the elements in their favour early on and took the lead on 10 minutes when a speculative effort from the edge of the area beat Leon Pitman and nestled in the far corner (1-0).
The hosts later believed they had doubled their advantage when a looping header appeared to cross the line, but officials waved away the appeals. Newport offered little before the break.
Half Time: Lymington Town 1-0 Newport IW
With conditions now favouring them, Port took control. On 60 minutes Joe Craig continued his recent fine form by capitalising on a handling error from the goalkeeper and bundling home the equaliser (1-1).
Jordan Browne added physical presence from the bench, Ollie Linington impressed on the left and Kudzi Mazambara came closest to a winner with a snap shot that grazed the crossbar.
Macauley Watterson had a strong penalty appeal turned down after being felled inside the area as Newport pressed for all three points.
Full Time: Lymington Town 1-1 Newport IW
Newport IW: Pitman, Egerton-Read, Hancott, Watterson, Holbrook, Thompsett, Grace, Conway, Craig, Butcher, Nash. Subs: Mazambara, Linington, Weeks, Ballinger, Browne.
Port remain 6th in Wessex Division 1, just 2 points off the play-off places. On Tuesday they welcome league leaders Colden Common to The Zilch Waste Stadium, kick-off 19:45.
TATTERSALL STRIKES BUT YACHTSMEN OUTGUNNED
Cowes Sports were beaten 4-1 by Andover New Street in the Wessex Premier despite showing greater resolve after the break.
An early warning came on 16 minutes when Alex Ram rushed from his line but was beaten to the ball and shown a yellow card.
Andover struck on 26 minutes when Cam Thatcher finished well from outside the box after Cowes lost possession in midfield (0-1).
Malachi Dotse doubled the lead on 29 minutes following another interception (0-2) and added his second on 37 minutes after a precise through pass from Claudio (0-3).
Half Time: Cowes Sports 0-3 Andover New Street
Emerson Tattersall made his home debut on 65 minutes and quickly made an impact.
On 69 minutes, Carter-Knight drove forward and the move ended with Tattersall finishing from close range (1-3).
However, Andover restored their cushion when Aleks Kokoszka produced a neat backheel finish inside the box (1-4).
Cowes were reduced to 10 men on 83 minutes when Oatley was sin-binned, leaving the Yachtsmen with little opportunity to mount a late response.
Full Time: Cowes Sports 1-4 Andover New Street
Cowes Sports: Ram, Hughes, Dempsey, Flood, Oatley, Colson, Haward, Cruttenden, Carter-Knight, Marsek, McFarlane. Subs: Cook, Chase, McKie, Wykes, Tattersall. Man-of-the-Match: Wykes.
Defeat leaves Cowes 16th in the Wessex Premier with 25 points from 23 games. The Yachtsmen next face Fleetlands at Powder Monkey Park in the quarter-finals of the Wessex League Cup, kick-off 19:30.
