East Cowes Vics have retained their 100 per cent record in Wessex Division 1 by beating Verwood by a single goal.
Vics were unlucky not to have won by a greater margin in a game in which they twice hit the woodwork against a side that threatened little.
The East Cowes side were unchanged from the one that beat Millbrook 2-1 midweek.
The Beatrice Avenue outfit began brightly with Josh Neale striking the ball against the right upright in the 4th minute.
The Potters were given an uncharacteristic opportunity in the 23rd minute when a mishit back pass from Callum Chase fell for a for a Verwood forward, who shot the ball straight at goalkeeper Ram.
Vics had further opportunities to take the lead in the 1st half: Harrison Taylor had a powerful strike blocked by the keeper, and Jacob Reynolds headed just over the crossbar.
Half time: East Cowes Vics 0-0 Verwood Town
The home side continued to threaten the Potters’ goal early in the 2nd half. 3 minutes from the half time break, Liam Newbold saw his goal attempt bounce off the crossbar. In the 53rd minute, Josh Neale found himself clean through but could only shoot wide.
Elliott Wheeler – taking charge of Vics in the absence of Alex Smith – then threw on his substitutes: Charlie Marsek, Raff Boyd-Kerr and Charlie Hart.
Marsek made an impact almost immediately, shooting over the crossbar in the 73rd minute.
With 15 minutes of the match remaining, Marsek was brought down in the penalty area for Jacob Reynolds to convert the resulting spot kick (1-0).
In the 81st minute, Ji Nash had a golden opportunity to finish the game as a contest when set up at the far post from a Charlie Hart cross but could only hit the ball at the Verwood keeper.
The Dorset side threatened little in the final minutes of the game, and Vics had 2 further penalty appeals from Toby Snow and Charlie Marsek turned down.
Full time: East Cowes Vics 1-0 Verwood Town
East Cowes Vics: Ram, Snow, Yates, Newbold (Berry), Chase, Taylor (Hart), Reynolds, Chapman, Neale (Marsek), Coode (Boyd-Kerr), Nash
YACHTSMEN TAKE 1ST LEAGUE POINT AT BROCKENHURST
Cowes Sports snatched a draw from the jaws of victory, having taken a 2-0 1st half lead.
The Yachtsmen took the lead in the 10th minute through a 25-yard George Carter-Knight special, which he buried in the top corner of the Badgers’ goal (0-1)
Jez Conway added a 2nd for the Island side in the 25th minute with an 18-yard curling effort (0-2).
The New Forest side then pulled a goal back in 1st half injury time through Marcelo Rossi.
Half time: Brockenhurst 1-2 Cowes Sports
The Yachtsmen had the opportunity to restore their 2-goal advantage 10 minutes from full time when awarded a penalty. Substitute John McKie hit the Brockenhurst keeper with his penalty kick before dispatching the rebound wide.
Then came the sucker punch, with Paul Pearce equalising for the home side with less than 5 minutes of the match remaining.
McKie then had further opportunities to win the game for Cowes, striking the crossbar and forcing the Badgers’ keeper to make a fingertip save to push the ball out for a corner.
Full time: Brockenhurst 2-2 Cowes Sports
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Colson, Dempsey, Watson, Oatley, McFarlane, Cook, Phillips (c), Conway, Carter-Knight, Ahmed Subs: Neale, McKie, Laird, Benford
PORT GO DOWN AT DOWNTON
A much-changed Newport side, lacking many familiar faces from the previous season, travelled to Downton in Wiltshire to face a side hotly tipped for promotion.
The Port, however, started their 1st competitive game on the front foot, taking a 1st-half lead through a left-footed Joe Butcher thunderbolt that drew applause even from the home supporters (0-1).
Half time: Downton 0-1 Newport (IoW)
The 2nd half saw the home side dominate possession and create better chances before levelling the score through a Ryan Osman free kick that gave Port keeper Pitman no chance (1-1).
Against tiring legs, Downton brought on their subs and took the lead with a bullet shot from Joe Smith after a good move down the right (2-1).
The Port finished the game strongly, throwing Spike Pearce up front and forcing a series of corners but without managing to salvage a draw.
Full time: Downton 2-1 Newport (IoW)
Newport (IoW): Pitman, Hughes, Bristow, Watterson, McDonough (c), Pearce, Younie, Walsh, Browne, Oatley, Butcher. Subs: Downing, Smith
The county town club now play their 1st ‘home’ game against Totton & Eling at Beatrice Avenue on Wednesday evening (16th August).
