W&B RETAIN ISLAND ECHO CHALLENGE CUP BY BEATING VENTNOR ON PENALTIES

Whitecroft & Barton Sports overcame Ventnor on penalties in a competitive and entertaining Island Echo Challenge Cup final at Westwood Park on Thursday evening. In what was a feisty first 45 minutes, Ventnor’s Charlie Urry was the first in the book following a rash challenge after just 60 seconds. Isle of Wight Division 1 leaders and Challenge Cup holders W&B pushed for the 1st goal in the opening exchanges with both Josh Appell and Sam Cant having half chances. In the 16th minute – against the run of play – Ventnor’s Jack Barsdell picked up the ball in the middle of the W&B half and drove forward before unleashing a shot from just outside the box into the far left corner to give Ventnor the lead (1-0). Further competitive  challenges from both sides saw further bookings for W&B’s Sam Cant and Ventnor’s Freddie Knowles midway through the 1st half. W&B pressed for an equaliser before the interval and levelled the scores a minute before half-time when Sam Cant got his head to a curling cross (1-1).

Half time: W&B 1-1 Ventnor Ventnor brought on captain and top scorer Emerson Tattersall – who is still recovering from a serious facial injury – at the start of the 2nd half. W&B took the lead from a corner in the 50th minute when Sam Yelland smashed home a volley from the edge of the penalty area past the diving Russell (2-1). Despite being under the cosh for most of the opening exchanges during the 2nd half, Ventnor forward Charlie Urry brought the South Wight side back on level terms with a sublime right-footed shot that left Linington with no chance (2-2).

In the 72nd minute, Yelland bagged his brace by volleying home following a poor defensive header (2-3). Ventnor pushed for the equaliser, which came in the 87th minute when Freddy Knowles dispatched an magnificently-placed free kick into the W&B net, much to the delight of his genial Dad Kenny, who was present as a spectator (3-3). Not happy to risk the lottery of a penalty shootout, Ventnor pressed for a winner in the dying embers of the game, but a duo of injury time efforts from Emerson Tattersall were both saved by W&B keeper Linington.

Full time: W&B 3-3 Ventnor And so to penalties… Matt Evans, Aiden Sainsbury, Keelan Sainsbury and Ollie Frost all successfully converted their spot kicks for W&B. Charlie Urry sent his penalty over the crossbar; Jack Barsdell had his attempt saved by Linington; Freddie Knowles hit the back of the net for Ventnor. Penalties: W&B 4-1 Ventnor

W&B: Linington, K. Sainsbury, Martin, Rayner, Jackson, A. Sainsbury (c), Yelland, Cant, Appell, Evans, Drew Subs: Frost, Harper, Lyon Ventnor: Russell, Illman, S. Mullholland, S. Gee, Lamb (c), Knowles, H. Mullholland, Barrow, Urry, R. Gee, Barsdell Subs: Tattersall, Rowland, Pomroy Man-of-the-match: Sam Yelland