WEST WIGHT SNATCH MEMORIAL CUP DEFEAT FROM JAWS OF VICTORY AGAINST VECTIS

Vectis reached the quarter finals of the Memorial Cup by beating West Wight in a penalty shootout in a reversed fixture at Cowes Enterprise College yesterday (Saturday). However, West Wight held a 2-goal lead until the 75th minute, and the game only went to penalties following a Vectis equaliser in the 8th minute of injury time. Vectis dominated the 1st half in terms of possession but lacked a cutting edge up front. The experienced West Wight side showed some clinical finishing to reach the half time interval with a 2-goal advantage. West Wight took an early lead when Max Foreman sent a low shot from the middle of the penalty area past Vectis keeper Ballington in the 5th minute (1-0). Foreman then bagged his brace by sending a further shot through the penalty area from a corner (2-0). Foreman was unlucky not to have been awarded a penalty when apparently fouled by Ballington challenging for the ball. Vectis had a ‘goal’ from Louis Newsham disallowed. The closest Vectis came to scoring a legitimate goal came when Josh Denness shot just past the left post.

Half time: West Wight 2-0 Vectis In the 2nd half, Vectis continued to dominate possession but lacked the ability to score until Kudzi Mazambara entered the field of play on the hour mark. With a quarter hour of the game remaining, Kudzi received the ball on the edge of the penalty area, controlled it, before putting it past West Wight goalkeeper Gearing (2-1). 10 minutes later, a foul on Kudzi led to Ryan Gregory punishing West Wight from the resulting free kick to put Vectis on level terms with 5 minutes of full time remaining (2-2). A minute later, Zak Harris restored West Wight’s lead by bundling in a corner (3-2). The final goal came courtesy of the head of West Wight defender Dan Burgess (3-3), who sent the ball looping over Gearing in the 8th minute of injury time (but it has been claimed by Vectis’ Ben Cutts). West Wight finished the game with 10 men after Charlie McFarlane was sent off for a 2nd yellow after a foul on Kudzi.

Full time: West Wight 3-3 Vectis Ryan Gregory, Harry Furness, Alfie Snow and Josh Denness all converted their penalties for Vectis. Carl Babbington saved 2 West Wight penalties with a 3rd flying over the crossbar. Penalties: West Wight 2-4 Vectis West Wight: Gearing, Phillips, Elliott, Craig, Burgess, Shepherd, Harris, Foreman, Smeeton,  Daley, Saunders Subs: McFarlane, Taylor, Groom Vectis: Ballington, Sibbick, Barratt, Shaw, Gregory, Denness, Newsham, Greenslade, Wherry, Snow, Cutts Subs: Houghton, Furness, Mazambara

After the game, winning manager Reece Biedler said:

“What a performance from our boys! 1st half, we felt comfortable and in control without really threatening West Wight’s goal. “At the interval, we just felt we needed to carry on doing what we are doing but just up the tempo and that’s what we did. We suffocated West Wight for much of the half and got the game back to 2-2. “Huge resilience and quality from the boys today with a Gold Cup tie looming on Wednesday. Really proud of them all.”

Vectis now face Newport at Beatrice Avenue in the Gold Cup on Thursday (7th March). Kick off is at 19:30.

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W&B KNOCK WEST WIGHT OFF DIV 1 TOP SPOT

In the only Harwoods League game to beat the weather, Whitecroft and Barton Sports went top by trouncing East Cowes Sports 8-0 at Sandy Lane. Josh Appell scored a hat trick for W&B, with Kyle Drew bagging a brace. Sam Cant, Matt Evans and Sam Yelland were also on target for the home side. W&B are now level on 29 points with West Wight but take top spot on goal difference. The Sandy Lane side have played 1 game fewer than West Wight. Defeat leaves ECS 2nd-from-bottom with 12 points from 15 games.