By Isle of Wight Observer
Classic cup contests captivated crowds across the Island, with league goals aplenty at Osborne and Seaview, red cards at the Molehill and Whitecroft & Barton, and points for all Island Wessex sides.
IW Cups
In the Memorial Cup, Ventnor won 6-5 on penalties at home to Bembridge, after coming from two goals behind from Aaron Youngson and an own goal. They drew 2-2 in normal time, with a wonder strike from Ventnor player-of-the-match, Jack Barsdell, and a Robert Gee header. The match went to penalties, with ref Ali Taylor, overseeing the shoot-out. Ventnor keeper, Dan Russell, made two critical saves, with Ventnor winning 7-6 thanks to Martin Barrow, Barsdell, Freddie Knowles, Neo Lamb, Gee, Harry Mulholland and Sonny Mulholland, whose match winner hit the roof of the net and initiated an evening of celebrations.
Also in Division One, Brading overcame Division Two Wootton 7-1 at Wootton Rec. There were first-half goals from Aaron Bennett, player-of-the-match Luke Glyn, Dan Vale, Scott Lawson, Elliot Apter, and Louis Strickland, and a second-half own goal.
Macauley Barnes scored for Wootton and the side will now face Ventnor in the quarter-finals.
In the Gold Cup quarter-final, Shanklin won 4-3 away at Binstead COB. In a tight end-to-end match, the Seasiders scored through Cory Sanderson, Jason Smythers, Fraser Lloyd and an own goal. The Binmen’s goals came from Cian McGee (2) and Harry Taylor, with Dean Stuber controversially red-carded for Shanklin.
Two goals from Joe Melody saw West Wight A snatch a last-minute draw 2-2 away at Bembridge A in the Junior B Cup semi-final.
IW Leagues
In Division One, West Wight won 8-2 away at High Park, with two goals apiece for Ash Brett, Max Foreman, Chris Elliott and Josh Daley.
In Division Two, goals from Rob Kirby, Keith Rust and two from Ethan Brierley saw Newchurch win 4-3 away at Newport Res.
Fourth-placed Sandown & Lake won 7-0 at home to Seaview, with two apiece from Josef Stratton and Alex Breingan and one each for Dale Nash, Jack Evans and Kai Westmore.
Leaders Osborne Coburg won 10-1 at home to Ryde Saints, with Kade Woodford getting the consolation goal. Coburg scorers were Mark Taylor (2), Harry Green (2), Brad Kenning, Jack Davies, Carl Phillipson, Liam Sumpter and an own goal.
In Combination One, East Cowes Sports Res won 7-3 at home to bottom club Vectis Res, with goals from Mark Abrook, Luke Bennett, Mac Blacklock, Andy Ebbs, Harry Gwilliam, Tayler Holmes and Aiden Jones, with Vectis scorers, Harvey Jones, Sam Littlemore and Jake Symes.
Arthur Balchin and sub, Leigh McKenzie, scored in Northwood Res 2-1 home win against Sandown & Lake Res, with Ethan Dicker netting for the visitors.
Ventnor Res lost 4-2 at home to Binstead COB Res, with two goals apiece from Sam Hart and Jack Morris.
Leaders West Wight Res won 4-1 away at Shanklin Res, with goals from Sam Oatley, Jason Moore, Simon Merrett and Adam Millar. Shanklin replied through Billy McCormack.
Third-placed W&B Res won 5-1 at home to Bembridge Res, through a Barney Snaith hat-trick, and two from Louis Biles, finishing with 10 players after forward, Kyle Drew, was red-carded.
In Combination Two, Ventnor A won 2-1 away at Newchurch Res.
Wootton Res won 9-0 away at neighbours Seaview Res, with two goals each for Rowen Churchill and Connor Gudgin, and one apiece from Jarred Brodie, Shay Dixon, Matt Smith, Phil Shuro and Cameron Kayode.
Wessex
Cowes came back from two goals down to draw 2-2 at home to Andover New Street, with second-half strikes from Connor Kelly, who almost clinched the match in the dying minutes.
In Division One, Newport won 1-0 at home to Romsey, with a first-half strike from Joe Butcher. The day saw Jordan Browne mark his 200th appearance following his 100th club goal at the start of the season.
East Cowes Vics drew 1-1 away at Alresford, with a first-half Jez Conway goal, and Alresford had a player sent off for two cautions.
Midweek Results
East Cowes Vics overcame Fawley 1-0, with early chances for Charlie Marsek and Raff Boyd-Kerr. They took the lead within 10 minutes when Jacob Reynolds headed home a Aedan Cooke corner, with the heavy pitch taking its toll on all players. Vics’ Jordan Chapman was player-of-the-match.
Newport lost their midweek match 5-0 away at Millbrook.
Fixtures
On Saturday, Division One Leaders W&B visit Northwood, West Wight welcome Brading and Shanklin entertain Bembridge.
Ventnor are at home to East Cowes Sports, and Binstead COB travel to High Park.
In Division Two, leaders Osborne Coburg visit Seaview, Newchurch are at home to Sandown & Lake with Niton welcoming Newport Res.
In Combination One, leaders West Wight Res travel to W&B Res, Brading Res welcome Osborne Coburg Res and East Cowes Sports Res entertain Binstead COB Res. Vectis Res are at home to Bembridge Res, and Northwood Res are away at Ventnor Res.
In Combination Two, leaders Bembridge A welcome West Wight A, Wootton Res play Seaview Res, and Niton Res visit 2nd-placed High Park Res.
In Wessex, Cowes travel to Fareham Town in the Premier Division, with 5th-placed Vics away at Fleetlands, and Newport home to Aldermaston.
On Sunday, following last weekend’s postponed home matches, Shanklin Ladies welcome QK Southampton in Division One. In Division Three, Wight Eagles travel to Bursledon.
