EAST Cowes Vics continued their push for promotion with a composed victory over a bogey team of sorts, but it was a difficult afternoon for our other two Wessex League sides.

In the Wessex Premier Division, a travelling Cowes Sports team fell to Blackfield and Langley, losing 1-0.

The hosts were content to let Cowes have the ball in the early stages and the Islanders were denied a penalty on ten minutes.

Some ten minutes thereafter, a headed effort saw Cowes strike the crossbar, and the Islanders spurned further chances to break the deadlock.

Second half, Cowes settled back into the game after a shaky opening five minutes, but after a scrappy period, the hosts took the lead, profiting from a long ball on the 70-minute mark.

With Cowes unable to restore parity thereafter, Blackfield saw the game out.

Over in Division One, East Cowes Vics took a narrow victory when they entertained Cove.

The visitors got the better of the Islanders not once, but twice last season, but a goal from Josh Neale on 31 minutes was enough to break the trend.

Cove were reduced to ten men early on, and within a minute of the dismissal, Neale capitalised.

Receiving the ball on the right-hand side of the area, he cut inside and fired past the Cove stopper, much to the delight of the 178 Vics supporters watching on.

The Islanders started well after the break and were patient in their play.

They missed a few further chances to extend their lead but were seldom troubled at the other end of the pitch.

With another three points in the bag, the Vics have now won their last six games.

Fellow Division One side, Newport, meanwhile, were well beaten by hosts AFC Aldermaston, losing 3-1.

Ji Nash had a good chance to open the scoring on 21 minutes, and seconds later, Newport were punished – Aldermaston with the opener.

On 30 minutes, the hosts extended their lead, but Jez Conway cut the deficit on 36 minutes to give his side the momentum going into the break.

Regrettably for Newport, it was the hosts who came racing out of the traps, restoring their two-goal advantage on 53 minutes to put the result beyond doubt.