All three of our Isle of Wight Wessex League sides were in action today (Saturday, October 12), as Cowes, Vics and Newport all dropped points.
Scroll down to find today's football reports (Round-up order: Cowes, Vics and Newport).
Christchurch 2-2 Cowes Sports
The Yachtsmen travelled to Dorset to face fellow strugglers Christchurch in the Premier Division.
The match was full of missed opportunities for Cowes - compared to the home side, who made very few.
It was the Islanders who struck first on the 15-minute mark after a volley by Scott MCFARLANE on the edge of the box flew past the blinded keeper.
A few minutes later, Christchurch responded with an equaliser, which came from a lovely flick, which helped the ball into the far corner.
The Yachtsmen hit back moments before half-time.
A free kick by Jez CONWAY, celebrating his 300th appearance for Cowes, was fired hard and low, beating the keeper to his right.
Ten minutes into the second half, the home side netted again.
A ball whipped across the park from left to right found the Christchurch winger, who cut inside and tried his luck from 25 yards out, soaring over Hatt and creeping in just under the bar.
The Yachtsmen were unable to take their chances, with Will Bridi’s effort hitting the post and multiple attacks leading to no end result.
Despite this, Cowes were unlucky in the dying embers, seeing a last-minute chance blocked on the goal line, preventing a late winner.
A special shoutout to Cowes keeper Ed Hatt, who made an unbelievable 500th Yachtsmen appearance today.
Cowes will enjoy a week-long break before hosting Portland United at The Zilch Waste Stadium next Saturday (October 19).
East Cowes Vics 0-0 Alresford Town
The Islanders started at a fast pace and pushed the visitors back for the first ten minutes, but the first major chance went to Alresford.
In the 16th, a speculative 20-yard effort came back off the Vics crossbar with keeper Alex Ram flatfooted.
Josh Neale was unlucky a minute later after his driving run into the box ended with a toe-poke that was saved well by the Alresford keeper.
The talking point of the half was in the 29th minute when a lunging tackle on Harrison Yates resulted in the mainland side's skipper being sent off for comments he made to the referee.
Vics came out sharp in the second half but also found themselves down a man just over ten minutes from kick-off.
A challenge by Neale caught the Alresford defender’s ankle, which was enough for the referee to deem it violent conduct and saw the young striker receive his marching orders.
Now both down to ten men, Alresford and Vics were able to conjure up some good chances, but none that troubled either keeper – with the game ending goalless.
Vics sit in second place, one point behind Frimley Green, with two games in hand.
Next up, the Islanders welcome midtable Fleetlands on Tuesday night (October 15).
Frimley Green 2-2 Newport
Port started to get into their rhythm, with Ji Nash and Joe BUTCHER causing problems, which resulted in the latter slotting home into an empty net before the quarter-hour mark after some confusion in the home defence.
Frimley were soon level after the striker turned the Newport defence on the edge of the box and drilled his shot across Leon Pitman for the equaliser.
Newport regained the lead on the half-hour after skipper Jordan BROWNE’s missed opportunity luckily found its way back to him for a simple finish six yards out.
Just before half-time, Frimley were level.
Another lost ball in the midfield led to the hosts bringing the match even from close range.
Port keeper Pitman was the star of the second half, showing safe hands, strong distribution and some stunning saves.
Throughout the half, Newport were restricted to a few clearcut chances and, at the final whistle, were jubilant to come away with a well-earned point.
Next up, seventh-place Port welcome fifth-place Cove next Saturday.
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