Isle of Wight champions W&B won the Memorial Cup by beating Cowes Sports Reserves at the Zilch Waste Stadium on Tuesday evening (29th April).
Whitecroft & Barton now have a clean sweep of Isle of Wight trophies, having already won Harwoods Division 1 and the Challenge Cup.
However, this is the first time W&B have lifted the Memorial Cup since 2019.
The victory was all the sweeter for Whitecroft & Barton as Cowes Sports Reserves had ended their unbeaten record in the league on Saturday with a 2-3 victory at Sandy Lane.
However, despite having 3 first team regulars in their side – Scott McFarlane, Jimmy Mumford and Charlie Marsek – the Yachtsmen were unable to overcome Isle of Wight league’s most successful side.
W&B began the game strongly with Harry Taylor striking the post with a free kick in the 10th minute, Sam Cant coming close to converting a Kade Woodford cross, then Woodford blasting the ball past the right post and over the crossbar.
The Yachtsmen had their chances, with Charlie Marsek shooting over the crossbar in the 21st then having a header saved by W&B keeper Jamie Linington.
Sam Yelland opened the scoring for W&B in the 39th minute with a flicked header that beat Cowes keeper Bridi (0-1).
2 minutes later, Josh Appell headed home an Aidan Sainsbury free kick to give W&B a 2-goal half time advantage (0-2).
Half time: Cowes Sports 0-2 Whitecroft & Barton Sports
The Yachtsmen had clawed back a 2-goal half time deficit to win by the best of 5 goals at Sandy Lane 3 days ago but were unable to produce a similar 2nd half performance in the Memorial Cup final on their home ground.
In the 54th minute, Cowes had a shot cleared off the goal line after which Marsek had a shot thwarted by Linington. On the hour mark, the Yachtsmen had a strong penalty appeal turned down after what appeared to be a Josh Appell foul.
In the 76th minute, Sam Cant put the game beyond the reach of Cowes by beating Bridi to the ball to head home a Dan Pearson cross (0-3).
Cowes Sports substitute Raff Wightwick was then sent off for what appeared to be dissent – although the reason for his dismissal was a mystery for the Zilch Waste Stadium crowd.
The goal-of-the-game came late in injury time – a curling strike from distance from the Yachtsmen’s Jayden Long (1-3).
Full time: Cowes Sports 1-3 Whitecroft & Barton Sports
Cowes Sports: Bridi, Flood, Backshall, Coshell, Whittle, Fever-Norton, St John Biggs, McFarlane, Haward, Mumford, Marsek Subs: Long, Mumford, Wightwick
Whitecroft & Barton Sports: Linington, Lyon, Benford, Jackson, Ovnik, Sainsbury, Yelland, Taylor, Appell, Cant, Woodford Subs: Kalaker, Rayner, Pearson Man-of-the-match: Aidan Sainsbury
There are 2 further Isle of Wight trophies to be decided. On Wednesday 7th May, West Wight Reserves face Oakfield in the final of the Junior A Cup at Beatrice Avenue. On Saturday 10th May, East Cowes Victoria take on Cowes Sports in the final of the Senior (Gold) Cup.
Tonight, East Cowes Victoria travel to North Hampshire to face Alresford Town in the semi finals of the Wessex Division 1 playoffs. Kick off is at 19:45.
