Whitecroft & Barton Sports took another big step towards a potential trophy treble with victory last night (Tuesday).
Whitecroft & Barton Sports – already favourites for the Division 1 title and through to the Challenge Cup final – booked their place in the Memorial Cup final with a win over West Wight in front of over 150 spectators at Camp Road.
The semi-final began at a fierce pace, with both sides fully committed in a physical first half that saw no quarter given. W&B broke the deadlock on 33 minutes when Dan Pearson struck from the edge of the area to give the visitors the lead (0-1).
The game’s intensity spilled over on 40 minutes when West Wight’s Luke Phillips was sin-binned following an incident that also saw W&B forward Kade Woodford forced off injured, with Fin Kalaker taking his place.
W&B maintained their advantage through to the break after a hard-fought opening 45 minutes.
Half Time: West Wight 0-1 Whitecroft & Barton Sports
The visitors began to assert their dominance after the restart and extended their lead on 48 minutes, defender Tommy Jackson firing home a superb effort from the edge of the D (0-2).
West Wight responded 5 minutes later when substitute Myles Taylor produced a fine lob over goalkeeper Williams to reduce the deficit (1-2).
However, W&B regained control on 68 minutes as Fin Kalaker capitalised on a mistake by Zak Harris, rounding the keeper before slotting into an empty net (1-3).
The scoring was completed on 75 minutes when centre forward Sam Cant finished from an acute angle with a low strike across goal (1-4).
Full Time: West Wight 1-4 Whitecroft & Barton Sports
West Wight: Gearing, Phillips, Groom, Harris, Brett, Thomas, Simmonds, Tyrell, Bricknell, Daley, Elliott. Subs: Taylor.
Whitecroft & Barton Sports: Williams, Lyon, Lambert, Jackson, Ovnik, Sainsbury, Yelland, Wright, Cant, Pearson, Woodford. Subs: Green, Kalaker, Rayner.
W&B will now face Brading Town in the Memorial Cup final, while both sides will meet again in the Challenge Cup final at Westwood Park on 28th April.
BRADING TOWN RESERVES GO TOP IN COMBI 1
The Romans appear certain to lift Isle of Wight Combination 1 title after beating East Cowes Sports Reserves 4-0 in Combination 1 at Vicarage Lane.
Isaac Glynn opened the scoring for the home side, with Connor Coburn extending Brading’s lead in the 33rd minute before Tim Shaw bagged a brace with goals either side of half time.
Brading Town Reserves now top the table on goal difference above W&B Reserves and now need to take only a point against Shanklin Reserves on Saturday to be certain of winning the league.
Isle of Wight football results for Tuesday 14th April
Memorial Cup semi final
West Wight 1-4 W&B
Harwoods Division 2
Newport Reserves 3-2 East Cowes Vics Reserves
Ryde Saints 1-2 Binstead & COB
Combination 1
Brading Town Reserves 4-0 East Cowes Sports Reserves
