Carisbrooke United on brink of promotion after beating Saints

CARISBROOKE will celebrate promotion to Division 1 of the Harwoods Isle of Wight League on Saturday with a win.

The blues beat and leapfrogged second-placed Saints in an ‘all-or-nothing’ encounter at Clatterford Rec last Saturday.

Carisbrooke United’s Jack Manton (far right, in blue) makes a vital interception against Ryde Saints.

The Saints, second most of the season behind champions Bembridge, needed at least a point to go up themselves to return to Division 1 for the first time in nine seasons.

With Oakfield conceding the points in last night's Wednesday fixture, unable to field a side, it is cold comfort for Ryde as they moved back into second, two points clear, knowing Carisbrooke only need to beat the bottom club, Yarmouth and Calbourne, in their final game this weekend to rubber-stamp their promotion.

The blues have slipped almost unnoticed under the radar since Christmas, putting together a superb string of results.

Carisbrooke United's hat-trick hero, Tony Potts (wearing blue), in action against Ryde Saints on Saturday.

For Carisbrooke, it should not be a matter of if they win, but by how many, against a side which has conceded over 200 goals and lost all 23 league games this season.

Ryde can only hope for a footballing miracle — any other result.

Saints went into Saturday's game in great form, with the mid-week Isle of Wight Junior A Cup under their belt after beating Oakfield, but they came up against a side in even greater nick.

Both sides missed a hatful of chances in a goal-less first half.

But the fireworks started seven minutes into the second period, with Carisbrooke breaking the deadlock through striker Ed Brotherton.

Three minutes later, a weak clearance by Saints keeper Ben Orton dropped to Henry Bartlett, who volleyed spectacularly first time into the top corner from about 25 yards out, but Ryde substitute Rory Day responded for the visitors with a tap in to half the deficit.

The home side scored again through super-sub Tony Potts who headed in direct from a corner on 71 minutes.

Near the end, Carisbrooke scored on the break — Potts slotting home when one-on-one with Orton.

Ryde hit back again through Josh Tombleson, but any thoughts of a grandstand finish were dashed when Potts bagged his treble — capitalising on a missed defensive header direct from a goal kick with a minute left.

Carisbrooke Utd: Ballington, White, Manton, Newey, Jardine, Bartlett, Brotherton, D.Moul, Cantelo, R.Moul, Richardson. Subs: Taylor, Gulliver, Potts.

Ryde Saints: Orton Dunnett, Aldric Vaughan, Lowe, Sweet, E.Snow, Cant, Ramage, Blanchard, Tombleson. Subs: L.Snow, Day.