Isle of Wight ladies football side Wight Eagles thrashed one team and almost completed a thrilling comeback against another across two action-packed fixtures.
Hosting Pace Women, the Islanders started well, keeping possession and fashioning early chances for Ellena Boakes and Abi Joyce.
Pushing for an opener, Boakes drew a foul and scored from the resultant free kick, rifling the ball into the top corner.
Substitute Georgia Dye made it two soon after, and on 30 minutes, Kira Smith broke free down the right, crossing the ball to Joyce, whose first-time finish beat the keeper.
On the stroke of half time, Jess Green continued her great run of form to net a fourth.
Second half, the Islanders were in control, with stopper Alisha Keyes untroubled.
Despite the stellar result, the Islanders were unable to extend their unbeaten run in the following game, losing 4-3 to Winchester Flyers.
Hitting the road this time – their first away game of the season – the Islanders were without experienced defender Emma Webb.
They started on the back foot and struggled to find their rhythm, conceding on 15 minutes.
The hosts netted a second from a corner ten minutes thereafter, and when captain Katie Rand was denied a free kick on the edge of the box, Winchester capitalised to make it three.
After a reshuffle at half time, the Islanders hit their stride, Joyce netting on 50 minutes.
The Islanders pushed for the winner but were denied even a point in the end, Winchester netting in the final ten minutes; a gift of a back pass the Eagles’ undoing.
“This was a hard one to take,” said manager Dan Verstraeten.
“We never got started in the first half and gave them too much respect and space.
“Errors will always cost games, and we need to learn from that.”
Wight Eagles host Mudeford at GKN Sports Field on Sunday, at 2pm.
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