YACHTSMEN WIN AGAIN BUT PORT HELD AT HOME AND VICS SUFFER BAD DAY AT OFFICE

There were mixed fortunes for Isle of Wight Wessex League sides with an away win for Cowes Sports, a home draw for Newport, and defeat for Vics in Dorset.

PORT DENIED 3 POINTS BY LATE COVE GOAL

Newport were denied victory at Beatrice Avenue by a Wasps goal 8 minutes from full time after maintaining a goal advantage for most of the game. The game began with a minute’s applause for Newport superfan Glen Stoddart, who sadly passed away. The County Town club began on the front foot with a goal from centre forward Jordan Browne: his 10th of the season to date (1-0). 2 chances then fell for Port no 7 Joe Butcher, who forced a good saves from the Verwood keeper in the 20th and 30th minutes. The Port kept their 1-goal lead until the end of the opening 45 minutes with some solid defending and had opportunities to extend their lead. Half time: Newport (IoW) 1-0 Cove Joe Butcher had a further chance to give Newport a 2-goal advantage on the hour mark but was denied by the Cove keeper’s leg. The Port had occasion to regret some missed chances that could have kept all 3 points on the Island when – in the 82nd minute – Connolly dispatched a ball under Pitman’s arms to equalise for the Wasps (1-1).

Full time: Newport (IoW) 1-1 Cove Newport (IoW): Pitman, Page, Walsh, Oatley,  McDonough, Catania, Butcher, Younie, Browne, Craig, Myram Subs: Streeter (gk), Parsons, Shepherd, Harris Newport man-of-the-match: Harri Catania The draw leaves Newport 17th in Wessex Division 1 with 19 points from 17 games and have 6 games in hand on the 2 clubs above them in the table. On Tuesday evening, the Port travel to Southampton to face 3rd-placed Millbrook.

YACHTSMEN EXTEND UNBEATEN RUN TO 9 GAMES

Cowes Sports remain 1 point behind the playoff positions after coming from behind to beat Pompey side Baffins Milton Rovers 1-3. The game began with a strong penalty appeal for the Yachtsmen when the Baffins keeper brought down Scott McFarlane in the penalty area. Baffins then took the lead through Lukonyomoi, who slotted the ball into the bottom corner of the goal from the edge of the 6-yard box (1-0). The Yachtsmen had a golden opportunity to equalise when first McFarlane had a cross parried by the Baffins keeper – which fell to Kelly – who forced the Baffins No 1 into a further save. Cowes had a 2nd chance to level the scores when the Baffins keeper tipped a Colson header over the crossbar. The Island side finally equalised on the stroke of half time when Fin Phillips lobbed the ball into the Baffins goal from 30 yards after their keeper had punched it clear from a corner (1-1). Half time: Baffins Milton Rovers 1-1 Cowes Sports

The Yachtsmen took the lead through a John McKie volley with his back to the goal after Ryan Oatley had won the ball at a corner (1-2). Captain John bagged his brace shortly after scoring by toe poking an attempted back pass into the bottom right corner of the goal (1-3). McKie was then red carded after scoring 2 goals, apparently for catching the Baffins right winger with a high foot. Baffins were lucky not to have 1 of their side dismissed when Liam Triggs was first accidentally kicked in the head and then kneed in front of the referee, with only a yellow card given. Despite being 1 man down on their opponents, Cowes maintained their 2-goal adventage for the remainder of the game to return across the Solent with all 3 points. Full time: Baffins Milton Rovers 1-3 Cowes Sports Cowes Sports: Hatt, Dempsey (Bridi), West Triggs, Oatley, Hancott (Cook), Phillips (White, Colson, McFarlane (Neale), McKie, Kelly (Hayward) Cowes Sports man-of-the-match: Scott McFarlane The Yachtsmen’s win leaves the Island side 7th in the Wessex Premier, just 1 point behind 5th-placed Brockenhurst but with 3 games in hand. Portland United have overtaken Cowes on goal difference after winning 0-6 at Lymington Town. The Isle of Wight’s sole Wessex Premier representatives remain unbeaten since 11th November when they lost 0-1 to Brixham in the FA Vase. On Tuesday, Cowes Sports face possibly the strongest side in the Wessex Premier – 4th-placed Moneyfields – at Westwood Park.

VERWOOD TOWN 3-1 EAST COWES VICS

Vics’ chances of reaching the playoffs suffered a blow when they were beaten by Dorset side Verwood Town in front of a paltry attendance of 37. Substitute Harrison Taylor scored the East Cowes side’s consolation goal 6 minutes from full time. Vics’ defeat sees them fall to 7th in the Wessex Division 1 table, having been overtaken by Fleetlands who beat Ringwood Town 3-0.