VICTORIES FOR VICS AND YACHTSMEN SEE BOTH ISLAND SIDES ADVANCE TO 6TH IN WESSEX PREMIER AND DIV 1

The Isle of Wight sides on both banks of the Medina won to go 1 place below the playoff spots in their respective divisions on Saturday (16th December). East Cowes Vics achieved victory by the best of 5 goals despite the absence of captain Callum Chase, experienced defender Liam Newbold and combative midfielder Rafferty Boyd-Kerr. The home side came out of the blocks quickly and peppered the Whitchurch goal with shots for a full 20 minutes. 3 chances for Jez Conway were not taken before Josh Neale tucked away an Aedan Coode cross just after the quarter hour mark (1-0) The Vics forward line continued to maul the Whitchurch defence, with 2 further goal attempts for Josh Neale and a scoring opportunity for Jez Conway that failed to beat the Whitchurch keeper. The Island team increased their lead in the 26th minute when an inch perfect ball into the box from Chapman found Ji Nash, who slotted home (2-0). The East Cowes side continued to have the upper hand. On the half hour mark, a Jordan Chapman cross found the head of Harrison Berry, who sent the ball just over the bar. Further chances for Coode, Nash  and Brad Young weren’t taken. 5 minutes before the half time interval – totally against the run of play – Whitchurch’s first genuine attempt on goal saw Sam Freeman curl an unstoppable shot past Alex Ram into the top right  corner of the goal (2-1).

Half time: East Cowes Vics  2-1 Whitchurch United

Having run Whitchurch ragged in the first half, Vics ran out of steam in the 2nd. In the 56th minute, Ash Neal hit a beauty for Whitchurch, which was denied by a fingertip save from Alex Ram. It took until the 83rd minute for Vics to extend their lead when substitute Charlie Marsek smashed an unstoppable strike into the bottom corner of the Whitchurch net (3-1). Vics could have further extended their lead in the first minute of injury time after Josh Neale was upended in the Whitchurch penalty area. As well as awarding a penalty, the referee sinbinned Whitchurch defender Jake Impiazzi for dissent. Jacob Reynolds stepped up to take the spot kick, but his effort went high and wide. Whitchurch then pulled a goal back in the 94th minute, after a Harry Taylor handball was penalised with a penalty, which was was dispatched by Brett Denham (3-2). Vics came close to restoring their 2-goal advantage in the 96th when Harry Taylor turned 3 Whitchurch defenders inside out before deftly striking a ball that the keeper palmed onto the crossbar.

Full time: East Cowes Vics  3-2 Whitchurch United East Cowes Vics: Ram, Young, Yates (c), Berry, Reynolds, Chapman, Nash (Voller), Mumford (Taylor), Conway (Marsek), Coode (Kirby), Neale After the game, Vics manager Alex Smith said:

“We should have pushed on after we went 2-0 ahead, but we allowed the game to become scrappy. Some poor refereeing decisions – that allowed challenges that could have caused injuries – prevented us from finding our rhythm. “However, games cannot always be pretty.”

Vics’ win leaves the East Cowes side in 6th place with 32 points from 17 games, 3 points behind 5th-placed Cove but with a game in hand.

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YACHTSMEN OVERCOME PORTLAND IN ‘BATTLE OF THE ISLANDS’

Cowes Sports avenged their 5-1 defeat in the Isle of Portland earlier in the season to take their 5th successive victory and rise to 6th in the Wessex Premier. The Yachtsmen began the game poorly, with Joe Wickham opening the scoring for the visitors with a deflected shot in the 5th minute (0-1). Centre forward McFarlane came close to equalising for the home side by heading just over the crossbar. The equaliser came courtesy of Fin Phillips, who volleyed a John McKie cross past the Portland keeper in the 24th (1-1). 5 minutes from the half time interval, captain John McKie was upended in the box before converting the resulting penalty to give the Yachtsmen the lead (2-1). Half time: Cowes Sports 2-1 Portland United The Yachtsmen extended their lead 9 minutes into the 2nd half when Liam Triggs converted a Connor Kelly corner (3-1). Triggs bagged his brace in the 63rd minute by heading in a subsequent Kelly corner (4-1). Joe Wickham then pulled a goal back for the visitors in the 71st (4-2). The Island side held on to their 2-goal advantage for the remaining 20 minutes to ensure all 3 points remained on the Isle of Wight. Cowes Sports: Hatt, Dempsey, West, Triggs, Oatley, Hancott, Phillips, Cook, McFarlane, McKie(c), Kelly Subs: White, Mumford, Neale, Wykes, Bridi The Yachtsmen’s win leaves the Island side 6th in the Wessex Premier table with 28 points from 16 games, 4 points behind 6th placed Brockenhurst but with 2 games in hand. Newport (IoW) were to play Millbrook this Saturday, but the game was postponed  due to a waterlogged pitch.