By Isle of Wight Observer
Cowes, Vics and Newport worked hard to secure Wessex wins, Whitecroft & Barton extended their grip on the Division One title, Osborne Coburg Res won away at W&B Res with West Wight Res gaining ground, and Shanklin Women drew their Hants Trophy match.
Divisions One and Two
Leaders, W&B, won 3-1 away at West Wight, after a goal-less first half. Unbeaten W&B scored through player-of-the-match Harrison Taylor, Josh Appell and sub, Finley Kalaker, with Josh Daley getting the consolation goal.
A 94th-minute goal from Cory Sanderson saw Shanklin secure a 2-1 away win at Binstead COB, after Ben Gregory scored Shanklin’s first. Skipper, Darren Powell, scored for the Binmen.
Harry Symes 75th-minute strike saw Vectis, led by an outstanding Aaron Shephard, win 1-0 away at Ventnor. Sonny Mulholland stood out for Ventnor, who had Jack Barsdell booked. Brading won 3-2 away at Cowes Res, with 2 goals from stalwart, Dan Vale, and 1 from Liam Bennett. Cowes’ goals both came from Charlie Haward, including a bicycle kick.
In Division Two, 2 Cruz Wragg goals, and another from Brandon Thomas saw Niton win 3-1 away at Sandown & Lake.
Newchurch won 3-1 away at Newport Res, with goals from Sean Smith, sub, Luke Warde, and Aaron Doncaster.
Nathan Roberts scored for Oakfield, in their 1-0 home win over East Cowes Sports.
Combinations One and Two
Osborne Coburg Res pulled off the shock of the day, winning 6-3 away at leaders W&B Res. Goals came from Harry Green (2), Connor Coburn, Charalambous Panayi, Alex Joseph Hughes, and player-of-the-match, James Taylor, with Josh Gwilliam and Dan Pearson netting for W&B.
Second-placed and unbeaten West Wight Reserves closed the gap after winning 4-0 away, at 10-player Shanklin Res, with Jordan Flynn hitting 2 and Jason Moore slotting home a second-half penalty. Jude Millar capitalised on a defensive error.
Shanklin keeper, Pacey Ashton, is gaining confidence with every game.
Northwood Res won 5-3 at home to Ventnor Res, with consolation goals from Adam Ruscoe, Euan Sargent and Bradley Verstraeten.
Brading Res were awarded a home win over East Cowes Sports Res.
In Combination Two, two goals apiece for Dale Watkins and the yellow-carded Tom Stone, and 1 from sub, Ryan Warboyes, saw Sandown & Lake A win 5-1 at home to High Park A.
The Osborne Coburg A match against West Wight A was abandoned.
Ryde Saints drew 1-1 at home to Ventnor A, after a goal-less first half, Alfie Toulson gave Saints the lead, with George Creighton levelling for the visitors.
Wessex
Harrison Dempsey’s 100th appearance saw Cowes win 2-0 away at Andover New Street in the Premier Division, with first-half goals from Jordan Browne and a Jared Tout-Walters far post header securing 3 points.
East Cowes Vics won 2-1 at home to Verwood Town, with Scott Jones heading home Aedan Coode’s corner for 1-1 at half time. Jones headed his second in the 91st-minute from a Harrison Yates cross.
Three first-half goals saw Newport win 3-2 away at league leaders, New Milton, with goals from Luca Weeks and Ji Nash (2)
Women
Shanklin AFC drew 1-1 at home to Portchester Res in the Hants FA Women’s Trophy, hitting the bar in the second half before Faith Wagstaff gave them the lead with less than 15 minutes left. Skipper/keeper, Kirren Shaw, pulled off point blank saves before the visitors equalised. Despite extra time, the match had to be settled on a penalty shoot-out which the visitors won 5-4.
Wight Eagles won 6-1 away at City Ladies, with 2 goals apiece from Tawnie Siddall and Kira Smith, and 1 each from Sophie Lewis and player-of-the-match, Millie Tinsley.
Fixtures
This weekend Cowes are home to Wincanton Town, Vics travel to Ash, and Newport welcome Frimley Green.
In Division One, Brading welcome Ventnor, Osborne Coburg are home to Cowes Res, Vectis face Shanklin, and W&B host Binstead COB.
Newchurch are entertaining Niton, Ryde Saints play at home to Seaview, and Sandown & Lake host East Cowes Sports in Division Two.
Oakfield are home to High Park, and West Wight Res home to W&B Res in the Junior A Cup.
Combination One’s High Park Res are home to East Cowes Sports Res, Ventnor Res host Bembridge Res, and Brading Res face Osborne Coburg Res.
In Combination Two, High Park A are home to Osborne Coburg A, Sandown & Lake A welcome Oakfield Res, Newchurch Res host Ryde Saints Res, with West Wight A home to Ventnor A in the Junior B Cup.
On Sunday, 2nd-placed Shanklin visit 3rd-placed Farnborough, and Wight Eagles visit AFC Portchester Res.