Midweek Wessex League football round up: Island sides punished on the road

All three of the Isle of Wight's most competitive football sides returned to league action tonight (Thursday)

In the Wessex Premier Division, Cowes Sports travelled to Lymington Sports Ground to take on Hythe and Dibden.

The visitors were the first to open the scoring from a corner on 35 minutes.

Trailing at the break, the Yachtsmen were back under pressure early on, but it Connor Kelly who missed a decent early chance, coming in from the left and sending the ball a couple of metres wide of the post.

Cowes finally found the leveller on 61 minutes; an own goal.

The Islanders were reduced to ten men on the 82-minute mark, and were punished on 95 minutes when Hythe scored a late winner from a long throw.

The game ended 1-2.

Over in Division 1, East Cowes Vics took a one-goal lead against Cove into the break, and doubled their advantage early in the second half.

Jake Wright netted both, bagging himself a brace.

Cove got one back 20 minutes later, and levelled 15 minutes thereafter.

East Cowes Vics were further punished when Cove scored another late goal – the last kick of the game – to take all three points.

The game ended 2-3.

Fellow Division 1 side, Newport, meanwhile, hit the road to take on Romsey Town.

The Islanders started well and got their reward on the 23-minute mark – Joe Butcher netting.

Romsey hit back almost immediately from a goal-mouth scramble.

Joe Butcher forced one of many saves from the keeper on 36 minutes, but Newport could regain their lead ahead of the break.

Second half, Newport again took the lead – a headed effort from a recycled corner – but Romsey again found the leveller.

The Islanders soon fell apart, and Romsey scored a further three goals in a dominant second half display.

The game ended 2-5.