THERE was high drama in the Wessex League Cup as East Cowes Vics took a Premier scalp after scoring a dramatic injury time leveller, then won a penalty shoot-out, with the keeper the hero. UNITED SERVICES PORTSMOUTH 1, EAST COWES VICS 1 Vics have started this season on fire — and their hard work and great form and heart continued in this second round tie, under the floodlights at HMS Temeraire tonight (Tuesday, October 1). The Islanders, sitting in third place in Division 1 of the Wessex League, may have quietly fancied their chances before kick-off against a United Services Portsmouth side propping up the rest of the Wessex Premier.
Vics had the better of the early exchanges and were on top after 15 minutes. Josh Neale should have done better than miss the target, when put through on goal superbly by Zak Sullivan on 25 minutes. Five minutes later, Jacob Reynolds was unlucky with a diving header from a Sullivan corner, which went just wide of the post.
But on 38 minutes, Rafferty Boyd-Kerr was sent to the sin bin, which dampened Vics' attacking intent leading into half-time, where it remained goalless. The second half was lacking in action, but with all still to play for, United Services Portsmouth took the lead with a good strike from distance in the 75th minute, beating understudy keeper Fraser Law. But Vics, with a never-say-die attitude these days, levelled it in dramatic fashion with a Scott Jones strike, two minutes into injury time, to deflate United Services and tak.