East Cowes Vics ended their league goal drought with a 3-1 win at home to Wincanton Town, while Cowes Sports suffered their first defeat of the season, losing 3-0 away to Sherborne Town.
EAST COWES VICS 3-1 WINCANTON TOWN
East Cowes Vics finally ended their Wessex Premier goal drought, scoring 3 times to record a 1st league victory of the season at Beatrice Avenue.
Manager Alex Smith was forced into more changes with no fewer than 6 senior players unavailable. Elliott Wheeler, Jacob Reynolds, Scott Jones, Jake Wright, Harrison Yates and Raff Boyd-Kerr all missed out, but there was welcome news as both Liam Newbold and Aedan Coode returned to the bench after lengthy spells on the sidelines.
Despite the enforced absentees, Vics started brightly and were ahead early on. A flowing move down the left involving Charlie Hart and Connor Kelly opened up the visitors’ defence, allowing Adam Voller to tap home from 2 yards (1-0).
Kelly twice went close to doubling the lead, first denied by Zak Beard and then hitting the upright. Alex Ram was rarely troubled in the Vics goal, tipping over a long-range strike in the only real effort of the half from Wincanton.
Half Time: East Cowes Vics 1-0 Wincanton Town
Vics continued to dominate after the break. Jordan Chapman went close from 25 yards, and Liam Triggs struck the bar before a flurry of shots were blocked by a desperate visiting defence.
Totally against the run of play, Wincanton levelled when substitute Dave O’Hare headed home (1-1). The response was immediate – Coode played in Kelly, who found Caleb Neale to lift the ball over the advancing keeper (2-1).
In stoppage time, Cruz Wragg’s fine pass released Kelly to finish in style and seal a deserved victory (3-1).
Full Time: East Cowes Vics 3-1 Wincanton Town
East Cowes Victoria: Ram, Snow, Holbrook, Triggs, Wright, Chapman, Hart, J. Neale, C. Neale, Voller, Kelly. Subs: Coode, Wragg, Mazambara, Newbold, Roberts. Man of the Match: Jamie Wright
After the game, winning manager Alex Smith said:
“A number of times we’ve said we’ve played well and created plenty of chances. That bit’s not a concern. But finishing has been.
“It’s nice to put a performance together and get the goals we feel that we’ve deserved. We’ve put our money where our mouth is.
“We were well worthy of the win and controlled large periods. There were some really big performances there. Triggsy was spectacular. Charlie (Hart) had a really big say on the game. There was a great finish by Caleb (Neale).”
Vics move up to 14th in the Wessex Premier table on 4 points from 3 games, level with Baffins Milton Rovers and 2 points clear of the relegation positions.
SHERBORNE TOWN 3-0 COWES SPORTS
Cowes Sports were brought back down to earth in Dorset, the Yachtsmen losing their 100% league record as Sherborne Town ran out 3-0 winners to go top of the table.
Cowes created the 1st opening from a corner that was scrambled clear, but the Zebras grew into the game, and Ed Hatt was called upon to make an excellent save to keep the scores level. George Colson then went close with a free kick after Ryan Oatley had been fouled.
Sherborne went ahead through Dec Cornish, whose corner from the left flew straight in under the bar (1-0). Worse was to follow for Cowes before half-time when Jordy Cook was forced off injured to be replaced by Morgan Perrin.
Half Time: Sherborne Town 1-0 Cowes Sports
The Zebras doubled their lead soon after the restart, Josh Williams volleying home at the back post from a flicked-on corner (2-0). Cowes responded by bringing on Cory Sanderson for Callum Chase and enjoyed a brighter spell, but Carter-Knight’s best effort was straight at the keeper.
The game was settled late on when Ollie Hughes broke into the box, a deflection carrying the ball back to him to fire into the net (3-0).
Full Time: Sherborne Town 3-0 Cowes Sports
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Flood, Mumford, Chase, Oatley (c), Colson, Carter-Knight, Phillips, McFarlane, Cook, Haward. Subs: Perrin, Sanderson, Long, Backshall.
After the game, co-manager Mark Woodhouse said:
“I thought we managed the 1st half really well and played some good stuff. We knew they were going to be quite physical and then they scored directly from a corner, which burst our bubble.
“It was a bit of a sucker punch. They scored early on in the 2nd half from a flicked header. Once it’s 2-0, it’s really hard to come back.
“We huffed and puffed and tried hard. But unfortunately, today was Sherborne’s day and we’ll take the learning from it.”
Cowes, with 6 points from 3 matches, now lie 10th in the Wessex Premier table.
