Port and Yachtsmen celebrate league success as Vics drop out of FA Vase

All three of our Isle of Wight Wessex League sides were in action this weekend, as Cowes and Newport welcomed league opponents and Vics travelled up country in the second round of the FA Vase.

Whitchurch United 2 – 4 Newport

Following a disruptive journey to North Hampshire, courtesy of a few Red Funnel “curve balls,” Newport came home with another hard-fought three points.

Whitchurch started the better of the two sides, with an attack down the right leading to a ball across the box smashed home by the attacker in the third minute.

Port thought they had found an equaliser on the 15-minute mark, but Joe Craig’s toe poke from six yards out was ruled out for offside.

Newport in action against Whitchurch United (Image: Newport IW FC) The home side’s keeper single-handedly kept Newport at bay with three stunning saves before half time, including one down to his left post.

However, with ten minutes remaining in the half, Craig broke down the left and crossed the ball into Ji NASH, who won the footrace against the opposition fullback and bravely slid the ball home.

Two minutes into the second half, a beautifully delivered ball into the box by Josh Younie found the head of Mikey THOMPSETT, who put Port ahead.

The Islanders kept the momentum, with a Joe Butcher free kick met by CRAIG with a clever diagonal run, making it three.

Port were now laying siege, as Butcher rattled the bar from five yards out before making amends – benefitting from two Whitchurch defenders colliding – and slotting home into an empty net.

Whitchurch started to come back into the game, hitting the post and forcing Port stopper Leon Pitman into three saves.

The home side were awarded a late penalty, which was coolly slotted home in the final ten minutes.

Looking ahead, Port welcome Totton and Eling in Division One on Saturday before three successive away days.

Cowes Sports 1 – 0 United Services Portsmouth

The first chance of the game went to Cowes after Ryan Oatley picked out the run of John McKie, who beat the trap and avoided the keeper’s challenge, only to watch as his attempt just went wide of the open net.

For the first 20 minutes, the match was end-to-end, with the best chance for the Yachtsmen coming through Jake Wright.

A throw-in taken by Ryan Hughes was headed clear by United Services, where the number eight caught it sweet on the volley, but the keeper managed to hold it well.

As the half came to a close, Cowes dug in deep, with a shot fired straight at Yachtsmen number one Ed Hatt, a shot from a tight angle flying wide and a goal ruled offside.

After the break, the Island side finally managed to get the ball into the back of the net.

A corner on the right by Fin Phillips found MCKIE at the back post, who headed home in the 53rd minute.

McKie bagged a second ten minutes later when a free kick whipped in by Callum Chase was won by Scott McFarlane, who played in the goalscorer, but his shot went wide.

The match ended with 15 minutes of scrappy play from both teams, but Cowes did not mind, as they claimed all three points.

The Yachtsmen are back in action at the Zilch Waste Stadium in midweek (Tuesday, November 12) as they welcome AFC Stoneham in the Hampshire Senior Cup.

Hartpury University 1 – 0 East Cowes Vics

East Cowes Vics travelled to Gloucestershire in the hope of achieving their best-ever record in the competition.

The Islanders faced Hartpury University, who sit top of the Hellenic League, one stop over Vics’ level.

Vics could have taken the lead on three minutes when a Harrison Yates free kick was met by an unmarked Liam Newbold, four yards out, but his header was just off target.

Hartpury hit back immediately, with a strike coming back off the inside of the post, and the game somehow remained goalless.

The home side found it very comfortable on the ball, with Vics having a hard time retaining possession in the first half.

After the break, Hartpury came out lively and took the lead in the 55th.

A free kick into a dangerous area was met by an attacker, with a clever deft flick beat Vics keeper Alex Ram.

Six great chances were saved, and another clattered off the post, as Hartpury took control of the game.

Toby Snow’s late effort caught out the Hartpury keeper, who pushed the ball over the bar, with the resulting corner seeing a chance by Scott Jones fly over.

Vics drop out of the FA Vase but will look ahead to their next Wessex League Division One fixture on Saturday (November 16) against AFC Aldermaston.