Winning Weekend For Island's Wessex League Sides

It proved a highly successful weekend for the Island’s three Wessex League teams, Cowes Sports, Newport and East Cowes Vics, who all picked up maximum points from their respective games.

Yachtsmen Sail Past Portsmouth

Cowes Sports secured a vital Premier League victory over United Services Portsmouth, even though manager Max Draper accepted it was not one of his side’s better displays. Goals from Jake Watson, Finley Phillips and Ji Nash before the hour mark set the Yachtsmen up nicely for a 3-1 victory at Westwood Park. It avenged the defeat they suffered at the hands of their opponents in Portsmouth just before Christmas.

The Island outfit edged into a two-goal lead before half time, before USP pulled one back on the hour. John McKee nearly restored the two-goal cushion, but his effort came back off the woodwork, before Nash settled the nerves with the third.

Max said:

“It was a scrappy game and although we weren’t at the races, we took our chances and won, which makes a change. There were some very tired bodies out there after a busy month and a bit, but it is always nice to claim another valuable three points towards our target.

"The lads have put in some good shifts in over the last few weeks so a good rest and reset is needed this week, before we head into a tough game away at high flying Bashley.”

The success moved the Yachtsmen up to 15th in the table on 33 points and only two behind USP. But more importantly, with some other results going their way, it means another five points will guarantee them Premier Division football again next season. 

Browne Boosts Newport

Newport kept up their Division One promotion push with a hard-earned home 1-0 victory over Fawley. A first half goal from Jordan Browne was enough to take maximum points, and keep Newport handily placed in second spot, four points behind leaders Bemerton Heath Harlequins, but with a game in hand. The two title contenders face each other in a showdown on the mainland a week on Saturday, but Newport manager Steve Brougham is refusing to look too far ahead.

Steve said:

“We had a tough game against Fawley and the lads will need to rest some tired legs this week, before we go again at the weekend at home to Whitchurch, and that’s as far as I am looking. We need to win that one to keep up the pressure, and then turn our attention to Bemerton.

“The most important thing about the Fawley game was that we won, and it’s another one ticked off. It wasn’t one of our best performances, but you are bound to get those during a long season. After Jordan put us in front, we had several more chances to extend our lead, but to be honest, it was just one of those games when the result was all that really mattered.”  

Vics Survive Late Scare

East Cowes Vics snatched a crucial win over fellow strugglers Ash United to edge further away from the threat of relegation from Division One. It proved a tense scrap, particularly in the final 10 minutes, after Ash reduced Vics’ advantage to a single goal. Manager Richie Woodburn has openly admitted his young team have conceded far too many last-gasp goals this season, but on this occasion they clung on to their narrow advantage to secure a 2-1 result. Vics looked to be cruising when Sam Cant and Jimmi Burton both found the net in the opening half, but after they conceded through a dubious penalty, it was backs-to-the-wall stuff. 

Richie said:

“In true Vics style, we made it as uncomfortable for ourselves as we possibly could. We dominated early on, and we not only scored twice but missed several gilt-edged chances to put the game to bed.

"But after Ash were awarded a penalty, which they converted, their tails were up, and I was thinking ‘here we go again’, because we have that knack of snatching defeat from the jaws of victory. But I have a good bunch of lads, and this time we held out to claim all three points, which was all that really mattered.”