East Cowes Vics began 2026 with a dramatic 4-4 draw against Hythe & Dibden at Beatrice Avenue, following their Boxing Day Derby win at the Zilch Waste Stadium.
Manager Alex Smith named an unchanged starting eleven but included Scott Jones on the bench and welcomed back Harrison Yates, who had been sidelined since August. Before kick-off, Jordan Chapman was presented with a bottle of bubbly to mark his 250th appearance for the Vics.
Groundsman Trev Lacey was praised for ensuring the game went ahead despite freezing conditions.
Hythe started stronger and took the lead in the 8th minute after a misplaced midfield pass was punished by Kev Ngombi, who slotted home after a defence-splitting through ball (0-1).
Vics responded in the 23rd minute when Jordan Chapman delivered a fine ball into the box for Jake Scrimshaw, who eventually forced it over the line to make it 1-1.
Liam Newbold required treatment for a head injury following a knock, while Toby Snow saw his effort easily saved on 21 minutes after another Chapman through-ball. A minute later, Hythe went back in front with a powerful header from Ngombi to make it 1-2.
Caleb Neale fired wide in the 26th minute, and shortly after, Liam Newbold struck the bar with a header from Connor Kelly’s cross. George Bridi made a superb point-blank save in the 32nd minute, but a minute later Ngombi capitalised on another Vics mistake to claim his hat-trick (1-3).
Vics were reduced to 10 men on 41 minutes after Newbold was sin-binned for dissent. Despite this, they pulled one back just before half time, Liam Triggs getting the final touch from an Elliot Wheeler header following a Josh Neale throw (2-3).
Half Time: East Cowes Vics 2-3 Hythe & Dibden
The second half began with Vics on the front foot, creating chances through Kelly, Snow and Wright. On 60 minutes, Josh Neale produced a moment of brilliance with a free-kick that curled over the wall and into the top corner, levelling the score at 3-3.
Bridi was called into action again on 62 minutes to deny Ngombi. But Hythe regained the lead in the 67th minute through Harrison Fay, who curled in a stunning effort to make it 3-4.
Vics pushed hard for another equaliser, with Kelly twice going close. Their persistence paid off in the 93rd minute when Elliot Wheeler struck a perfectly placed shot past the Hythe keeper to make it 4-4 and send the 207-strong crowd into celebration.
Full Time: East Cowes Vics 4-4 Hythe & Dibden
East Cowes Victoria: Bridi, Snow, Wheeler, Newbold (c), Triggs, Chapman, Kelly, Wright, Scrimshaw, J. Neale, C. Neale Subs: Holdsworth, Hart, Yates, Boyd-Kerr, Jones Man-of-the-Match: Jordan Chapman Attendance: 207
East Cowes Vics remain 14th in the Wessex Premier Division with 24 points from 18 games.
Both Newport IW FC and Cowes Sports had their games postponed due to the severe frost the night before.
The Yachtsmen had arrived at Downton in Wiltshire when the referee decided the pitch was unplayable.
Newport have now only played one game since the start of November. However, it is hard to believe conditions at the Zilch Waste Stadium were significantly worse than those at Beatrice Avenue.
