East Cowes Vics are the only Isle of Wight side to reach the 1st round proper of the FA Vase after beating Wessex Premier side Blackfield & Langley this afternoon (Saturday).
The Victorians are now 7 games from Wembley. The opening goal for Vics was sored by new signing, striker Scott Jones – his first for the club.
Vics started on the front foot with the Blackfield keeper tipping a bouncing Jones header past the upright in the opening minutes.
The Beatrice Avenue boys took the lead in the 19th minute when Harrison Yates, Jacob Reynolds and Adam Voller combined to find centre forward Jones in the penalty area, who chested the ball down before volleying it into the goal off the upright (0-1).
The 1st half saw a flurry of yellow cards awarded to both teams with 2 Blackfield players and Aedan Coode and Jacob Reynolds for Vics all finding their way into the referees notebook.
A scappy 1st half ended with Vics a goal to the good.
Half time: Blackfield & Langley 0-1 East Cowes Victoria
After a spell of pressure from the home side, the Watersiders equalised in the 66th minute through a Jack Mann header from a poorly defended corner (1-1).
Blackfield then took the lead for the first time in the game in the 77th minute though Matt Dougan, who took advantage of Vics’ failure to clear the ball to fire it into the top corner of the goal (2-1).
The Watersiders’ lead only lasted for a minute when the home side’s keeper fumbled a low Harrison Yates shot, which trickled into the net to put Vics back on level terms (2-2)
5 minutes later, Jacob Reynolds slotted the ball past the onrushing Blackfield keeper (2-3) to secure a memorable FA Vase victory for the East Cowes club.
Full time: Blackfield & Langley 2-3 East Cowes Victoria
East Cowes Victoria: Law, Snow, H. Yates, Newbold (c), Wheeler, Chapman, Coode, Boyd-Kerr, Jones, Reynolds, Voller Subs: J. Neale, Hart, Sullivan, Kirby, Cartmell
After the game, Vics manager Alex Smith said:
“I’m obviously very pleased with the result and especially the fact that we came from behind, away from home, against higher division opposition.
“The boys dug deep when they had to, and we managed to swing the momentum in our favour during key moments.”
On Tuesday (24th September), the Victorians face Romsey Town at Beatrice Avenue with kick off at 19:45.
Victory would see Vics return to top spot in the Wessex Division 1 table.
POTTERS PUT OUT PORT WITH LATE PENALTY
Newport IW were knocked out of the FA Vase by Dorset side Verwood Town.
The only goal of the game came from a penalty conceded by Keenan Walsh in the 77th minute, which was converted by Pope.
With Joe Butcher playing at full back, an off-form Port threatened little throughout the game.
The home side brought on dead ball specialist Ant Kettell and Henry West – who provides an aerial threat – for the final few minutes, but were unable to break down a stubborn and well-organised Verwood defence.
Full time: Newport IW 0-1 Verwood Town
Newport IW: Pitman, Walsh, Butcher, Oatley, Watterson, Holbrook, Nash, Younie, Browne (c), Craig, Grace Subs: Myram, Kettell, Young, Grandvoinet, West
After the game, Newport Chairman Jon Davies Commented:
“Throughout the game Newport dominated possession, got into the better positions, but in a carbon copy of the earlier Fawley league fixture, the work in the final third lacked the killer instinct.
“Man of match Kai Grace was getting joy down the right and Ji Nash was also delivering some good balls from the left but unfortunately no one could get on the end.”
Gallery below:
YACHTSMEN SUNK BY CREEKSIDERS
Cowes Sports were knocked out of the FA Vase by 4 2nd half strikes from Fareham Town.
The Yachtsmen began the game brightly with Will Bridi and Scott McFarlane having headers saved by the Fareham keeper.
Fareham were unlucky not to have taken the lead just before the half hour mark when Connor Underhill struck the upright.
Half time: Fareham Town 0-0 Cowes Sports
Cowes had a scoring opportunity shortly after the restart when Ryan Oatley headed a George Carter-Knight cross just over the crossbar.
The Creeksiders took the lead in the 51st minute with a goal from their tricky left winger Underhill (1-0).
Substitute Matt Pates then added a 2nd for the home side in the 71st minute with only his 2nd touch of the ball (2-0).
5 minutes later, a 2nd inspired substitution by Fareham manager Simon Wood saw Sammy-Lee Kessack score with his first touch of the ball (3-0).
Fareham’s final goal came 11 minutes from the final whistle when Matt Pates bagged his brace with a 40-yard strike into the roof of the goal (4-0).
Full time: Fareham Town 4-0 Cowes Sports
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Mumford, Hughes, Conway, Oatley (c), Cook, Phillips, Carter-Knight, McFarlane, Nridi, Marsek Subs: Tout-Walters, Haward, Cranwell, Jackman
