East Cowes Vics are the new leaders of Wessex Division 1 after beating Frimley Green in the battle between 1st and 2nd at Beatrice Avenue this afternoon.
Frimley started brightly with 2 goal attempts in the first 8 minutes. New signing Scott Jones – in the starting line up for the 1st time – then had the opportunity to put Vics into the lead after being set up by Josh Neale but was denied by Frimley keeper Jake McKelvie. The Frimley No 1 then saved further goal attempts from Toby Snow and Jacob Reynolds.
Vics took the lead 4 minutes from half time after a Zak Sullivan corner was cleared, and the ball dropped to Scott Jones, whose neat pass back to Sullivan was crossed first time and met by Rafferty Boyd-Kerr to head home (1-0)
Scott Jones had the opportunity to extend Vics’ lead in the 6th minute of added time, but had his header saved at the far post by McKelvie.
Half time: East Cowes Vics 1-0 Frimley Green
The home side doubled their lead on 49 minutes after Toby Snow took the ball from his own half and shook off several challenges before getting to the byline and setting up Josh Neale to smash home from 8 yards (2-0).
Scott Jones was unlucky not to further extend Vics’ lead in the 56th minute when he lobbed the Frimley keeper, but the ball went wide. A goal attempt from Josh Neale a minute later was fumbled, with Jones unfortunate not to have struck the loose ball into the away side’s goal.
Frimley pulled a goal back on 70 minutes with a sublime strike from Nic Cardini, who chipped the ball from 25 yards out over the head of Vics keeper Alex Ram (2-1).
Vics finished strongly with further goal attempts from Josh Neale and Zack Sullivan, and saw the remainder of the game out to finish the afternoon in the Division 1 top spot.
Full time: East Cowes Vics 2-1 Frimley Green
East Cowes Vics: Ram, Snow, Yates, Newbold (c), Wheeler, Sullivan, Chapman, Boyd-Kerr, Jones, Reynolds, J. Neale Subs: C. Neale, Hart, Coode, Kirby, Voller Man-of-the-match: Toby Snow
BRETT PITMAN HAT TRICK SINKS YACHTSMEN
Cowes Sports lost by a 2-goal margin to Baffins Milton Rovers at Westwood Park despite leading at half time.
The author of the Yachtsmen’s defeat was former Pompey professional Brett Pitman, who scored a 2nd half hat trick.
The home side began on the front foot with 16-year-old Will Bridi hitting the upright in the 4th minute.
Cowes took a 21st minute lead through a 25-yard strike from centre forward Scott McFarlane that nestled into the the top right corner of the goal (1-0)
Bridi was unlucky for a 2nd time 4 minutes from half time when he again saw a shot rebound off the woodwork.
Half time: Cowes Sports 1-0 Baffins Milton Rovers
Baffins levelled the scores in the 51st minute when their offside no. 10 Bell set up Brett Pitman to slot home (1-1).
The Portsmouth side were denied a 66th-minute goal by the hand of Jez Conway, who made a beautiful save after Ed Hatt had been lobbed. Conway was yellow- rather than red-carded, and Brett Pitman coolly dispatched the resulting spot kick to put Baffins into the lead (1-2).
The Yachtsmen came close to equalising 2 minutes from full time when their keeper made a superb save from a Bridi volley.
However, Brett Pitman had the final word when he dispatched the ball from the edge of the penalty area past Ed Hatt and into the top left corner of the goal to ensure Baffins returned across the Solent with all 3 points.
Full time: Cowes Sports 1-3 Baffins Milton Rovers
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Mumford, Hughes, Conway, Oatley (c), Triggs, Carter-Knight, Cook, McFarlane, Bridi, Marsek Subs: Tout-Walters, McKie, Wykes, Cranwell, Salter
After the game, Cowes caretaker manager Ian Potts said:
“I am really proud of the lads today. Everything we asked them to do they did – the performance, attitude and application was spot on – the only difference between the 2 teams was that Baffins were more clinical finishing their chances.
“I saw lots of good things today and with more positivity, things will slowly change, and hopefully our good performances will turn into decent results.”
PORT PUT 4 GOALS PAST PLANEMAKERS
Newport beat Folland Sports away by an emphatic 4-goal margin.
The Port weathered waves of Folland attacks in the 1st half to reach the interval with a 1-goal advantage.
Michael Thompsett was unlucky not to have put Newport into the lead when he saw his shot rebound off the upright.
The Island side scored their opening goal in the 33rd minute through Jordan Browne (0-1).
Brad Young had an opportunity to extend the visitors’ lead shortly before half time but shot wide.
Half time: Folland Sports 0-1 Newport IW
Keelan Walsh added a 2nd for Port immediately following the restart (0-2).
Newport centre forward Jordan Browne bagged his brace in the 64th minute by heading a Joe Butcher cross into the goal (0-3).
A few minutes later, Port substitute Joe Craig had the ball in the net, but his effort was ruled offside.
Macauley Watterson then gave the visitors a 4-goal advantage by converting a cross from Ji Nash 12 minutes from full time (0-4).
Full time: Folland Sports 0-4 Newport IW
Newport IW: Pitman, Walsh, Thompsett, Young, Watterson, Holbrook, Nash, Oatley, Browne (c), Myram, Butcher Subs: Craig, Kettell, Grace, Grandvoinet, Younie
Newport’s win leaves them 8th in Wessex Division 1 with 11 points from 7 games.
This Tuesday (17th September), Newport face National League Aldershot at Beatrice Avenue in the Hampshire Senior Cup.
