All three of our Isle of Wight Wessex League clubs were in league action for the last time before Christmas today (Saturday, December 21).

The Yachtsmen wowed its home supporters with an eight goal thriller, Vics dominated away from home and Newport fought to retain a play-off position.

Cowes Sports 4-4 Hamble Club

Cowes welcomed second-place Hamble to the Zilch Waste Stadium, knowing that a win would help propel them up the Premier Division table after a poor start earlier in the season.

Things got off to a great start for the Yachtsmen after a free kick on the left of the box was whipped in by John McKie, with Callum CHASE’s header rattling off the post and in on 22 minutes.

Cowes then capitulated after a strong early showing in the defence, leaking two goals in four minutes.

A tackle in front of the 18-yard box fell to the Hamble striker, whose shot found the bottom corner, catching everyone out.

In the 40th minute, a misplaced Cowes free kick-started a counterattack for the home side, with a ball being played through the defence to the striker, who rounded keeper Ed Hatt to place it home.

It did not get much better for the Yachtsmen after the break either, as on 50 minutes, Hamble found their third.

A ball played through the Cowes defence again beat the offside trap, and the striker tucked away one-on-one with Hatt.

The misery was not over, however, as a Hamble midfielder knocked the ball over Ted Mumford to a winger, who cut back to the forward and watched as his strike clipped the bar and nestled into the net to make it 1-4.

With any chance of getting anything out of the game seemingly behind the Yachtsmen, a lifeline came in the form of Jordan BROWNE after he turned on the edge of the box and found the bottom left corner at 68 minutes.

Just five minutes later, Cowes were well and truly back in the match, following a fumble by the Hamble keeper from a corner, seeing the ball find the head of Ryan OATLEY.

Amazingly, from 1-4 down, the Islanders earned themselves a point after McKie found George CARTER-KNIGHT in space, who slotted the ball into the bottom corner.

Next up for Cowes is a trip across the Solent to Hythe and Dibden – who have the second-worst goal difference in the Wessex League topflight.

Folland Sports 0-3 East Cowes Vics

Vics, who were hoping to go into Christmas in a play-off position if the Newport result went their way, travelled to strugglers Folland Sports.

The Islanders started the brighter of the two sides and were unlucky two minutes in, as Aedan Coodes’ effort went just wide.

Vics keeper Alex Ram was alive to the danger in the 11th minute, saving at the feet of the Folland forward.

Just before the quarter of an hour mark, Vics took the lead, thanks to great work from Elliott Wheeler on the left, finding Coode, whose slide pass met Jordan CHAPMAN for an 18-yard effort that sailed into the corner.

They could have doubled their lead on 27 minutes after a brilliant run from Josh Neale ended with his effort being cleared off the line.

Vics came out from the break looking sharp again and increased their lead on 50 minutes.

Coodes corner was met perfectly by Liam NEWBOLD, who headed home powerfully to make it two.

On 68 minutes, the travelling fans were treated to a rasping effort from Raff BOYD-KERR that flew into the net from 25 yards.

With Ram just a spectator, Vics camped in the Folland half, with Ben Holdsworth – back from university – unlucky not to make it four in the dying embers.

Lymington Town 1-1 Newport

Meanwhile, Newport, who have the most amount of draws in Division 1 this season, travelled to Lymington Town, seeking to keep Vics out of the top five at Christmas.

It was not the start that Port would have hoped for, quickly finding themselves one-nil down within ten minutes.

In the 18th minute, Port were very unlucky not to find an equaliser.

The Lymington keeper pulled out a double save, leading to a corner for the visitors.

From the corner, Port fans were left furious when the ball seemingly crossed the goal line before the keeper pushed it away.

No goal said the referee, and Newport still trailed.

Just past the half-hour mark, the Islanders were unlucky again, as striker Joe Craig watched as his effort cleared off the line.

The only major highlight of the second half came just three minutes in when Port skipper Macauley WATTERSON found an equaliser.

With Vics picking up all three points, the two Island sides both sit on 35 points with Port ahead on superior goal difference going into the Boxing Day derby.

Vics still have two extra games on Newport yet to play.