All 3 Isle of Wight Wessex League clubs – Cowes Sports, East Cowes Vics and Newport – recorded victories on Saturday 5th October.
YACHTSMEN BEAT WATERSIDERS AT WESTWOOD PARK
Cowes Sports overcame Blackfield & Langley to record only their 2nd victory of the season.
The Watersiders took the lead in the 19th minute through Keegan Kelly, who scored his 1st senior goal for the club after Cowes lost control of the ball just outside their penalty area (0-1).
The Yachtsmen fought their way back into the game towards the end of the half with George Carter Knight beating the offside trap before sending the ball past the keeper and the upright in the 37th minute.
Captain John McKie had an opportunity to equalise 5 minutes before half time but was fouled by the Blackfield keeper with the ball bouncing off the crossbar.
3 minutes before half time, Jez Conway headed the Yachtsmen back on level terms by converting a George Carter-Knight corner (1-1).
Half time: Cowes Sports 1-1 Blackfield & Langley
Ryan Oatley gave Cowes the lead in the 57th minute with a 30-yard strike into the bottom left corner of the goal (2-1`).
The Yachtsmen defended deep for the remainder of the half with Ed Hatt denying Marcinkowski in the 84th minute and Palmier in the 90th minute to preserve the home side’s single goal advantage.
Further drama followed in injury time with both sides rattling the woodwork but Cowes held out to keep all 3 points on the Island.
Full time: Cowes Sports 2-1 Blackfield & Langley
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Hughes, Mumford, Conway, Oatley, Phillips, Cook, Jackman, McKie (c), Carter-Knight, W. Bridi Subs: Chase, Marsek, Tout-Walters, Haward, Wright
3 points for Cowes Sports leaves the Yachtsmen 17th in the Wessex Premier with 8 points from 10 games.
PORT EDGE CLOSER TO PLAYOFF PLACES
Newport avenged last months FA Vase defeat against Verwood with a comprehensive victory at Beatrice Avenue.
Port opened the scoring in the 28th minute when a pin point accurate free kick was met by Newport’s unmarked captain Jordan Browne, who buried his header from the middle of the box (1-0).
Further 1st half chances came and went, with Ji Nash and Joe Butcher both close to scoring.
Half time: Newport IW 1-0 Verwood Town
Port’s 2nd goal came in the 21st minute after a brilliant delivery from Josh Younie from a free kick on the left was met deep at the far post by man-of-the-match Macauley Watterson, who glanced his header past a flat footed keeper (2-0)
In the 59th minute, Joe Butcher sealed the points for the home side by beating the offside trap before slotting home (3-0).
Towards the end of the game, substitute Sonny Myram tormented a tired Verwood defence without adding to the score line.
Full time: Newport IW 1-0 Verwood Town
Newport IW: Pitman, Wright, Thompsett, Watterson, Hoolbrook, Younie, Oatley, Butcher, Nash, Browne (c), Grace Subs (all used): Goldberg, West, Young, Myram, Walsh
Newport’s win leaves them 6th in Wessex Division 1 with 17 points from 9 games, just 1 point behind 5th-placed Cove but with 3 games in hand.
VICS RETURN TO TOP OF WESSEX DIVISION 1
East Cowes Vics beat Fawley away from home to return to top spot in their division.
Vics almost opened the scoring on 21 minutes when Toby Snow sent an effort just wide. The Victorians had further opportunities to take the lead with Caleb Neale shooting over the crossbar in the 28th minutes, Scott Jones directing a header wide on the half hour mark, a clever chip from Jordan Chapman gathered by the Fawley keeper on 34 minutes, and Jacob Reynolds coming close with a 20-yard strike on 39 minutes.
Against the run of play, the Oilers took the lead 2 minutes into time added on after a ball bounced badly for keeper Fraser Law, which Femi Takyi dispatched into the top corner (1-0).
Half time: Fawley 1-0 East Cowes Victoria
Fawley came close to extending their lead on 54 minutes with Fraser Law saving well at a Fawley striker’s feet.
From then on, it was all Vics, Adam Voller had a strike saved on 54 minutes; Josh Neale had a further shot stopped in the 56th; Raff Boyd-Kerr was unlucky on 61 minutes when denied by the Fawley keeper.
Vics finally equalised in the 65th minute after a through ball from Liam Triggs found Josh Neale, who lobbed the ball over the keeper, off the post and into the goal (1-1).
A Zak Sullivan corner then hit the crossbar on 69 minutes, and a Sam Kirby chip went just wide.
The Victorians finally went in front in the 78th minute when Caleb Neale set up Sam Kirby to score with a fine finish (1-2).
Vics then kept the ball for the remainder of the half, seeing the game out with ease.
Full time: Fawley 1-2 East Cowes Victoria
East Cowes Victoria: Law, Snow, Yates, Newbold (c), Triggs, Chapman, Voller, Boyd-Kerr, Jones, Reynolds, C. Neale Subs: Ram, J. Neale, Hart, Kirby, Sullivan
After the game, Vics manager Alex Smith said:
“As expected, the trip to Fawley provided a very stern test. They were resilient and defended well in numbers. We went behind late in 1st half stoppage after a defensive mix up.
“Our 2nd half reply was very positive and, as we have many times this season, increased the pressure and got the goals we needed. Sam Kirby had a terrific impact from the bench and deserved his winner, and Josh Neale continued his fine run of goal scoring form. Liam Triggs was instrumental in the come back and had a big impact on increasing our tempo and quality in the 2nd half.”
Vics win leaves them in top spot in Wessex Division 1 with 25 points from 10 games, 1 point above 2nd-placed Alresford Town with a game in hand.
