Whitecroft & Barton Sports overcame Northwood St Johns at the Isle of Wight Community Club in the quarter final of the Island Echo Challenge Cup.
W&B’s margin of victory was a single goal – however, they could have won by a far larger margin but for some profligate finishing and a man-of-the-match performance by Northwood goalkeeper Joel Mather.
NSJ started the game without some key players, including goalkeeper and captain Andy Payne and midfielder Jason Malcolmson.
The match began farcically with the non-appearance of the referee. Cowes Sports Reserves manager Tom Driscoll was present at the game (although he initially intended only to watch the 1st half) and agreed to officiate.
W&B attacked from the off, and only good work from keeper Mather stopped the away side from taking an early lead.
In the 22nd minute, W&B centre forward Josh Appell hit the upright. A minute later, Appell saw the visitors gain a goal advantage when he cut inside from the left side of the field before curling a shot into the far corner of the goal (0-1).
Whitecroft & Barton had further 1st half opportunities to extend their lead with Appell shooting just past the left post in the 27th minute, Jack East putting a goal attempt past the right post in the 32nd and Matt Evans blasting the ball past the right post in the 41st.
Half time: Northwood St Johns 0-1 Whitecroft & Barton Sports
The 2nd half began in a similar manner to the 1st with profligate finishing and good goalkeeping preventing W&B from extending their lead.
Northwood St Johns also had their chances with Connor England dispatching the ball over the crossbar from a promising position in the 69th and Ollie Cousins having a long-distance lob just punched over the crossbar by W&B player-manager Gareth True.
The best 2nd half scoring opportunity for the away side came in the 76th minute when Jack East shot across the face of the Northwood goal.
NSJ came close to taking the match to penalties in the final minute of full time play when a James Flux free kick was struck by goalkeeper Mather before being flicked on by Ollie Cousins. However, W&B keeper True somehow manged to parry the ball for a corner.
Full time: Northwood St Johns 0-1 Whitecroft & Barton Sports
Northwood St Johns: Mather, Butt, Watson, Tigwell, L. Flux, White, J. Flux, Morgan, Cousins, England, Woodford Subs: Blackmore, Jones
Whitecroft & Barton Sports: True, Lambert, Martin, Williams, Ovnik, Sainsbury, Yelland, Calvert, Appell, Evans, East Subs: Benford, Rayner, Harper
Despite his side’s victory, winning manager Gareth True thought his team – who have only lost to champions Shanklin this season – had put on a “poor performance.” W&B now face Brading Town at Sandy Lane in the semi-final.
In the other Island Echo Challenge Cup semi-final, Shanklin take on West Wight at the County Ground.
After the game, stand in referee Tom Driscoll – who should have been on duty as physio at the Cowes v Baffins Milton Rovers Wessex League game at Westwood Park – said:
“I took a course when I was 16, so I know how to referee. Luckily, I had a whistle with me because I use it in youth games. I didn’t have a red or yellow card, so I had to verbally tell 1 player: ‘you’re booked’.
“I loved it – it was fun. All the boys playing were ‘good’. They respected the fact I was not a ‘proper’ ref.
“I thought I did a good job.”
What a difference these guys using skills rather than sly elbows and kicks to try to hurt their opponents.
Football not thuggish behaviour
So nice.
Lol!! That 1st pic, though!
I like to say well done to the stand in referee, but the first pic how far is the ref from play x