Impressive win over Andover

There were lots of competitive matches this weekend. The men’s first team secured an impressive win over Andover, with the men’s 2nd XI and both ladies’ teams finding themselves on the wrong side of the score line.

IW Men 8 v Andover 2nd XI 1

The IW Men hosted Andover on home ground with the Island’s attackers, Adam Payne, Samuel Challis and Tom Turney forcing the opposition on the defensive. Alex Breach, Patrick Butt and Ethan Edmunds-Lamb linked up to create opportunities which led to the Island’s goals. Payne nearly took the roof off the net with an impressive reverse stick shot.
In the second half, the IW team positioned themselves in the opposition’s D. Thomas Young smashed a shot into the bottom corner of the goal. Payne further added to his tally, thanks to midfield play from Aaron Hoare. Andover were lucky to get a tap in to give themselves a mark in the goal’s column. In the dying minutes, keeper Tom Speer denied Andover a final chance with a pinpoint accurate tackle.

IW Ladies’ 1 v Haslemere 2nd XI 2

The Ladies hosted Haslemere in a top-of-the-table clash. Haslemere struck first when they were awarded a penalty flick. Keeper Megan Turner guessed right but was unable to keep it out. A driving run by Sarah Shaw into the D resulted in a penalty flick to the Island side. Kirsty Fraser calmly put the ball into the top corner, out of reach of the keeper.
The second half was end to end, with the defence of Kirsty, Claire Caddick, Emily Lord and Crys O’Connell repelling Haslemere. Tireless work in the midfield from Jaimie Payne, Pip Spibey, Saffron Hart and Georgia Whittle, linked with the forward line, to impose themselves in the Haslemere half, and were unlucky not to reap the benefit. With one of only a handful of Haslemere shots on goal, the ball found its way into the back of the net. With only minutes remaining, it was all out attack and a shot by Georgia went inches wide of the post.

US Portsmouth 2nd XI 4 v IW Men’s 2nd XI 3

The IW Men’s 2nds travelled to face US Portsmouth. The early attacking threat of the Island’s John Pearson meant he was heavily man-marked. US Portsmouth found themselves on the scoresheet first, despite a questionable infringement; one of their forwards then entered the D and was able to fire a shot into the net, creating a 1-0 lead. The Island quickly won a short corner, which was bundled by Steven Holbrook. US Portsmouth fought back and earned themselves a short corner, leading to a goal to take back the lead. Shortly before half-time, reinforcements arrived in the form of Will Mew and Tomas Turjanica.
The second half saw the Island pile pressure and great build-up play allowed Nathan Bruce to slot the ball into the goal from the finest of angles. At the other end, the Island’s defence was broken again when Steve MacKnight was forced off with an ankle injury. Mike Dodds laid off the ball to Turjanica, who danced past the defence and fired a reverse hit finish, giving the Island a well-fought lead. From here it looked like the Island would extend their lead, but the opposition hit back with a controversial equaliser. US Portsmouth went on to score the winner from a scrappy short corner.

Portsmouth 4th XI 6 v IW Ladies 2nd XI 2

In similar fashion, the ladies’ 2XI were unfortunate in their game as well, suffering a defeat against Portsmouth 4s despite goals from Megan Bridger and Dee Sanchez-Brown.

By Lewis Wells