East Cowes Victoria beat Ash United by the best of 5 goals in their final Wessex League game at Beatrice Avenue this afternoon.
With the play offs guaranteed for the Victorians, it was home advantage on everyone’s minds today, a keen eye being kept on the Alresford v Verwood game (which Alresford won 4-2 despite conceding an early goal).
Vics manager Alex Smith made changes: Coode, Jones and Reynolds were on the bench and – with the big game on Wednesday in mind – in came Kudzi Mazumbara, Adam Voller and Zak Sullivan.
Before the game, the supporters player of the season was presented to club skipper Liam Newbold.
With a crowd of 197 cheering on the Vics, Ash were the first to create, and Tom White’s effort went just over the bar.
A rare mistake from Elliott Wheeler 3 minutes later allowed Ash’s Lewis Hockley in, but his shot went wide when a goal appeared certain.
Vics were unlucky on 28 minutes when Josh Neale’s free kick was pushed onto the bar by Will Frazeo.
Vics took the lead on 39 minutes after a Josh Neale cross fell for Liam Newbold, who stooped to head home (1-0).
Ash responded quickly and were level a minute later – Kurt Greenaway equalizing with a toe poke.
Raff Boyd- Kerr was unlucky on 42 minutes, and Gareth Bricknell’s shot looked like a goal on the stroke of half time, but the ball crashed against the bar.
Half time: East Cowes Victoria 1-1 Ash United
Alex Smith made 3 changes at the start of the 2nd half – Coode, Reynolds and Jones all came on – but Vics were caught out on 49 minutes when James Chivers raced through from the half way line to finish smartly past Ram (1-2).
2 minutes later, a Jacob Reynolds ball over the top fell perfectly for Scott Jones to hammer home (2-2).
Vics were now on top and creating chances galore: a Jones header was saved; Reynolds was unlucky on 71 minutes; a wonderful move with several pinpoint passes ended with Josh Neale ‘scoring’ but the linesman’s flag went straight up; Liam Newbold had the ball in the net on 74 minutes, but again the flag was raised and the goal disallowed.
Further chances for the Victorians followed: a Charlie Hart effort was superbly saved by Frazeo on 76 minutes; Scott Jones had the ball in the Ash net again on 77 minutes, but the goal was ruled out for an earlier infringement.
Vics were still searching for that winning goal, and Jones was unlucky on 84 minutes. 2 minutes later, a Reynolds strike went just wide. Ash were riding their luck but – in the 87th minute – a Charlie Hart cross found Jacob Reynolds, whose wonderful control, spin and strike saw the ball fly into the net at pace (3-2).
Yates and Jones had further chances to add to the scoreline in time added on, but the score remained 3-2 to Vics.
Full time: East Cowes Victoria 3-2 Ash United
East Cowes Victoria: Ram, Snow, Yates, Newbold, Wheeler, Sullivan, Mazambara, Boyd-Kerr, Neale, Bricknell, Voller Subs: Reynolds, Law, Jones, Coode, Hart Man-of-the-match: Kudzi Mazambara
East Cowes Victoria finish their league season in 4th spot – their highest ever placing in the Wessex League – with 72 points from 38 games and the best defensive record in their division (42 goals conceded).
On Wednesday, Vics travel to North Hampshire to face 3rd-placed Alresford Town in the playoffs semi final.
HONOURS EVEN IN PORT’S FINAL GAME OF 2024/25 SEASON
Newport’s season came to an end with an entertaining draw at Amesbury in Wiltshire.
The opening exchanges were fairly even. An optimistic long-range strike from Joe Butcher was the first real effort, but playing with the slope, Port began to get on top.
At the other end, Leon Pitman had a slight moment of concern but recovered well, while the Amesbury front three were also trying their luck from distance. Caelen Goldberg produced a brilliant last-ditch tackle to block Amesbury’s best chance of the half.
As half-time approached, it took a moment of magic from Ji Nash to break the deadlock – a wonder strike to bag his 22nd league goal of the season (0-1).
In the final move of the half, a trademark pinpoint Joe Butcher free-kick found Macauley Watterson unmarked 7 yards out, but his header went wide.
Half time: Amesbury Town 0-1 Newport IW
Amesbury had the slope in their favour in the 2nd half and dominated play for most of it. Pitman stole the show, producing yet another series of outstanding saves.
Newport weathered the storm, with captain Watterson and George Holbrook standing firm at the back and Keelan Walsh once again dominating the centre of the park. Then came wonder strike number 2 from Ji Nash – this time a rasping drive into the top corner – his 9th in 7 games (0-2).
Unfortunately for Newport, 2 defensive errors in a mad 2nd half minute meant that the points were shared (2-2).
Joe Butcher almost won the game in the final minute from 6 yards out, but the home keeper smothered the chance well.
Full time: Amesbury Town 2-2 Newport IW
Newport IW: Pitman, Holbrook, Goldberg, Watterson, Thompsett, Walsh, Linington, Butcher, Craig, Conway, Nash Subs: West, Brien, Arnold, Grace
Port finish their season in 8th place in Wessex Division 1 with 58 points from 38 games.
