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Tough Weekend For Island Teams In Wessex League

Cowes Sports were the only Wessex League side from the Island to pick up a point from the weekend games, with both Newport and East Cowes Vics slipping to frustrating defeats.

Yachtsmen take a point

Cowes Sports added to their points tally in the Premier Division when they secured a 1-1 draw against Christchurch at Westwood Park. The result kept the Yachtsmen eight points clear of third-from-bottom Christchurch, even though manager Max Draper had to shuffle his pack due to injuries and unavailability. They clung on for a point despite also having Jack Barsdell was sent off 10 minutes from time. They took the lead through Jez Conway’s 20-yard strike, but Christchurch were soon back on terms, and that was how it finished as the Yachtsmen managed to overcome the one-man disadvantage.  

Max said: It was good to pick up a point in tough conditions with a seriously depleted side. It wasn’t a pretty spectacle and going down to 10 men just topped off a tough couple of weeks on the legs and minds. Sadly, we will now miss another two players with suspension and injuries going into our next games. There was not much to commend the game, apart from the fact we took a point in difficult circumstance. but it was also nice to welcome three younger lads into the team in Ben Tickner, Harrison Dempsey and Billy Backshall, and they will get more minutes over the coming weeks.”

Newport suffer setback

Newport’s hopes of lifting the Division One title, and gaining automatic promotion, suffered a setback when they lost by the only goal at promotion-chasing Laverstock and Ford. But the Island outfit still have a very good chance of holding on to a place in the top five to secure a spot in the end-of-season play-offs.

Port manager Steve Brougham said: “It was a disappointing result, especially as we had the opportunity to take the points after Laverstock had a man sent off in the first half. I couldn’t fault any of my players for effort, but it was a game we needed to win, and couldn’t put it to bed. I am not making excuses for the defeat, because you have to make sure to take these types of opportunities when they come along. 

“But in the final third of the pitch it was a day when we didn’t really click. Now we have got to move on. We play Island side Oakfield in the IW Gold Cup quarter-final on Tuesday evening, and then face another tough test at Andover New Street on Saturday. But I still believe we have a great opportunity to finish in the top five, and that is what we will be trying to achieve.”  

Fatigue costs Vics 

East Cowes Vics boss Richie Woodburn blamed fatigue and a string of injury absentees for his side’s 3-1 defeat by fellow strugglers Fleet Spurs in their Division One game on the mainland. Vics had earmarked this clash as the one they needed to win to be sure of staying in the division, but tired legs and missing players proved too much to salvage even a point. 

Richie said: “I had half a team missing, and several other players carrying knocks. Fleet are fighting for their lives, and were quicker to the ball than us. We came through a big test when we beat Shanklin in the IW Gold Cup in midweek, which is the one result we had to win. I still expected to do better in this game, but my players looked fatigued, and needed a rest, which hopefully they will have over the next few days. It wasn’t for the want of trying; it was just that we could not raise our game sufficiently.”

Fleet, who remain second bottom, but now only five points adrift of Vics, settled into the game much quicker, and eased into a two-goal lead before Harrison Yates cut the advantage with a fine volley. Richie added: “At that stage I felt we were back in it, and had a chance of getting something, but once they got their third it was game over. I wouldn't say they are a better team than us, but on the day they were hungrier. I had my strike pair of Jimmi Burton and Sam Cant both out through injury, so I had to put a couple of 16-year-olds up front, and maybe it proved just a bit too much for them.”  

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