The reigning Isle of Wight champions, Whitecroft & Barton Sports, have started the new season in the familiar position of 1st place in the Division 1 table after beating Vectis by a 4-goal margin at Cowes Enterprise College.
It is a new era for W&B with the retirement of their long-serving and highly successful manager, Steve Rayner. His position has been taken by co-managers: former goalkeeper, Gareth True, and Steve Rayner’s son, Joe.
W&B had 4 new signings in their team on Saturday: Ollie Wilson, who has moved from Brading; Alex Wright, who has joined the team from Cowes Sports; Luke Lambert, who has signed from Northwood St Johns and former Newport goalkeeper, Andy Payne. Vectis have retained most of last season’s team, except for Callum Pye-Poulter, who has signed for Cowes Sports and Chris Turner, who has joined East Cowes Vics.
W&B opened the scoring after just 1 minute with a 25-yard strike from Josh Appell that went into the top corner of the goal (0-1). In the 22nd minute, Jack East directed a superb through ball to Appell, who ran towards goal and deftly slotted home (0-2).
5 mins before the break, W&B scored a 3rd goal. Appell passed to Matty Evans, who cut in from the left and sent the ball past the outcoming Vectis goalkeeper, Jordan Wicks (0-3).
HT: Vectis 0-3 Whitecroft & Barton Sports
The second half was a lot quieter. W&B’s first chance of the half came in the 60th minute when Alex Wright had a clear run on goal but had his shot saved by Wicks. New signing, substitute Ollie Wilson, went close in the 75th minute but saw his shot fly just past the post.
W&B finally scored a 4th goal 5 minutes from full time when Josh Appell crossed the ball for Matt Evans to slot the ball into the back of the Vectis net (0-4). Vectis battled gamely, but never once tested W&B keeper Andy Payne during the entire 90 minutes.
FT: Vectis 0-4 Whitecroft & Barton Sports
Vectis: Wicks, Wood, Urkie, Popple, Shepherd, Woodford, Furness, Harmer, Barrett, Ballard, Parker Subs: Wheary, Young, White
W&B: Payne, Lambert, K. Sainsbury, Knowles, Ovnik, A. Sainsbury, Wright, Rayner, Appell, Evans, East
After the game, W&B co-manager, Gareth True, said:
“I’m really pleased with the win and the clean sheet in our first competitive game. A great goal from Appell settled us nicely on a pitch that is always difficult to play on. Credit to Vectis, who played till the end. Hopefully, this is the start of a successful season for us.”
A spokesperson for Vectis said via Facebook:
“A valiant performance from our lads today: disappointing goals to concede but a good performance nonetheless.”
Other Saturday games
Last season’s Island League Division 1 runners up, Shanklin, begin the season in joint 2nd place in the table after beating West Wight 1-3 at Camp Road.
The scorers for Shanklin were: George Carter-Knight, Ryan Hill and Finley Lloyd. Bembridge, who beat Sandown & Lake 1-3 at Sandown Sports Centre, also lie in 2nd place.
Ryde Saints are in the 4th spot in Division 1 after beating Binstead & COB 3-2 in a closely contested Ryde derby at Smallbrook stadium. Coner Lyon (penalty), Sam Cant and Cian McGee were the players on target for Saints.
Hampshire Trophy winners, Brading Town, were held to an entertaining 4-4 draw by Cowes Sports Reserves at Westwood Park. Dan Vale scored a hat-trick for the Romans, and the scorers for the Yachtsmen were: Conor Furmidge (2), Chris Elliott and George Holmes.
Osborne Coburg top the Division 2 table after trouncing Seaview 11-1. The two new Division 2 teams—High Park and East Cowes Vics—played against each other, with High Park winning 6-3. High Park, who have returned to the Island League after an enforced absence, may face further disciplinary problems after their midweek ‘friendly’ against Pan Sports was abandoned shortly before full time following a mass brawl between the two teams.
Results for Saturday 14th August:
Harwoods Renault Saturday League Division 1: Cowes Sports Reserves 4-4 Brading Town; Ryde Saints 3-2 Binstead & COB; Sandown & Lake 1-3 Bembridge; Vectis 0-4 W&B; West Wight 1-3 Shanklin
Division 2: Wootton 2-1 Adgestone; ECS 3-1 Yarmouth & Calbourne; High Park 6-3 East Cowes Vics Reserves; Newchurch 1-0 Carisbrooke United; Osborne Coburg 11-1 Seaview; Pan 3-2 Ventnor; Wroxall 1-5 Newport Reserves
Fixtures for Tuesday 17th August:
Binstead & COB v Sandown & Lake; Northwood St Johns v Cowes Sports Reserves; Shanklin v Oakfield
Division 2: Carisbrooke Utd v ECS; Vics v Seaview; High Park v Osborne Coburg; Newchurch v Pan; Newport Reserves v Adgestone; Ventnor v Wootton; Yarmouth & Calbourne v Wroxall
Fixtures for Wednesday 18th August:
Harwoods Renault Saturday League Division 1: Bembridge v Vectis; West Wight v Ryde Saints; Brading Town v Niton
Fixtures courtesy of Isle of Wight DFA
Match report provided with the kind assistance of Dean Rayner
