All three of our Isle of Wight Wessex League clubs were in league action yesterday (Saturday, August 17), as Cowes, Newport and Vics all faced tough opposition. Cowes Sports had managed to collect two points from their opening two matches in the Premier Division. The Yachtsmen were looking to secure their first win of the season at home to Hythe and Dibden.
It was not the start Cowes would have wished for, as the ball found a Hythe midfielder, 30 yards out, who curled it into the top right corner within seven minutes. The Yachtsmen fought hard to try and find a quick equaliser, with two massive chances, in an eventful first 15 minutes. The first saw a long throw and a scrap in the box, finding Liam Triggs, who headed it straight at the keeper, with the second, a low cross into Scott McFarlane, resulted in a shot flying across the goal and wide.
Cowes had a flurry of chances at the end of the first half. A ball played through on the left to George Carter-Knight resulted in a shot across the goal cleared off the line. After this chance, the ball found Carter-Knight again, whose volley was deflected for a corner, from which Ryan Oatley headed just wide of the post.
The Yachtsmen started the stronger in the second half, but, out of nowhere, another excellent shot from 30 yards by a Hythe attacker hit the near post and into the back of the net. Two 30-yard screamers, and the Yachtsmen two-nil down. Just after the hour mark, the visitors made it three after a low ball into the back post was tapped it by another Hythe striker.
Cowes continued to have plenty of chances but could not get any of them into the back of the net. In injury time, a Yachtsmen ball played across the Hythe 18-yard box found Oatley, whose cross into the back post found the head of Charlie Marsek, but his chance was saved well, and Cowes missed the chance to salvage a consolation. UP NEXT: The Yachtsmen travel to Division One club Romsey Town for a Tuesday night kick-off (August 20) in the Hampshire Senior Cup.
Meanwhile, Newport entertained one of the title favourites, New Milton, on a hot afternoon which demanded the return of the water break. Newport vs New Milton at Beatrice Avenue (Image: Newport IW FC) Port had started the season incredibly well, earning six points from a possible six, and welcomed back Joe Butcher and Ji Nash, but were without suspended Harry Catania and injured captain Jordan Browne. New Milton were fastest out of the blocks, and a pinpoint cross-field ball found the attacker and led to the opening goal – a tap-in from five yards out on 15 minutes.
Newport grew into the game and finished the half stronger. Port’s deserved equaliser came just after 42 minutes after a superb cross from Matt Oatley from the left was met by a spring-healed NASH, who headed it past the New Milton keeper. New Milton were happy to sit deeper and allow Newport to dominate possession in the second half.
Port keeper Leon Pitman had very little to do for the rest of the match besides watching potshots balloon over his bar or miss the target. Port emptied the bench and allowed the tempo to remain high, with Butcher testing the keeper with a left-footed rocket just before the 70th. Ten minutes later, substitute Sonny Myram delivered a great cross from the left, but Kai Grace could not direct his header on target.
In the dying embers, Henry West nearly won it for Newport after a last-minute scramble saw a winner denied by a brave stop by the visiting keeper from close range. UP NEXT: Port face a tough test against Premier Division side Millbrook in the Hampshire Senior Cup in their next fixture - across the Solent on Tuesday evening. East Cowes Vics were the only Island Wessex League side travelling across the Solent today, as they faced Totton and Eling.
Player of the match, skipper Liam Newbold (Image: East Cowes Victoria AFC) With two victories in their opening two games, the Islanders were confident and started brightly, with Aedan Coode’s effort in the 12th minute going just wide. After two good saves from Vics keeper Alex Ram, Caleb Neale was unlucky in the 25th after his great run and attempted chip was saved by the Totton number one. Vics took the lead a minute later when Elliott WHEELER struck the ball from 25 yards and watched as it smashed against the inside of the post and into the net.
The Islanders looked to double their lead just moments later after a great ball from Coode put Jacob Reynolds away, but his chip over the keeper was cleared off the line. Just before half time, efforts from Neale and Coode were saved by the Totton keeper. The second half started at a fast pace, but it was Totton and Eling who would find the goal next – the striker beating Ram for pace at his near post to equalise in the 67th.
Totton almost took the lead just after the 70-minute mark after a header from a perfect cross was tipped over the crossbar by Ram. In the 82nd minute, Jayden Yates’ clever through ball found Charlie HART, whose beautiful finish beat the keeper to put Vics back in front. The mainlanders pushed hard for a late equaliser, with Ram saving a goal-bound effort and Toby Snow clearing another effort off the line.
Despite 11 minutes of injury time, Vics' defensive line held strong and kept their unbeaten streak going. UP NEXT: Vics are also in Hampshire Senior Cup action on Tuesday night, as they host fellow Division One side Folland Sports at Beatrice Avenue. We do not moderate comments, but we expect readers to adhere to certain rules in the interests of open and accountable debate.
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