EAST Cowes Vics pulled off their best result of the season by beating much-fancied Stoneham by a solitary goal in their Sydenhams Wessex Division 1 clash at Beatrice Avenue this afternoon (Saturday).
Vics skipper Joe Butcher, who has been in great goalscoring form of late, scored the goal's only goal on three minutes.
East Cowes Vics skipper Joe Butcher, who scored the only goal of the game against high-flying Stoneham. Photo: Graham Brown
Vics keeper Karl Steinbourne-Busse, who has been impressive between the sticks in recent weeks, saved a penalty to preserve their lead on the half hour mark.
East Cowes move up to ninth.
Newport entertained Division 1's top side, Amesbury Town, and lost by the same 1-0 scoreline in a battling performance to stay in seventh.
Cowes Sports can count themselves lucky to get a draw against a dogged Andover New Street at Westwood Park in the Sydenhams Wessex Premier.
The Yachtsmen took the lead on 24 minutes through a superb goal by player-manager John McKie.
John McKie, whose shot towards the end was smothered by the Andover New Street keeper. Photo: Paul Blackley
A Cowes corner was cleared, but it fell to McKie on the left and, from about 20 yards, he floated the ball over the stranded keeper's head and into the top corner.
After battering the opposition goal for a speel in search of the second goal, Cowes seemed to lose their shape in the middle of the park, which allowed the visitors to hit back strongly and were unlucky not to be 3-1 up at the break, rather than a goal down.
Early in the second half, Andover equalised and always looked a danger on the break, particularly down the left.
After a great Ed Hatt save and a number of last ditch challenges and blocks, Cowes managed to shut out any further goals.
Cowes Sports captain Gareth Bricknell was one of the better performers against Andover New Street this afternoon (Saturday). Photo: Paul Blackley
Cowes could have scored themselves ona couple of occasions, with McKie unlucky to see one of his shots well smothered by the visiting keeper.
After the game, McKie said: "I was so proud of what the players did. In the first half, our tempo, movement and control of the game was outstanding.
"In the second half we were a little leggy and weren't at the standard we had set in the first half.
"Having said that, the boys never gave up and we had chances to win it.
"We stay positive — a point's a point and we move out of the bottom two and prepare for next week."
Cowes move up a place to 18th — a point ahead of Bemerton Heath Harlequins, who have four games in hand over the Yachtsmen.
In Division 1 of the Island league, Northwood St John, who had been on a poor run lately, won convincingly away at Sandown by 3-0, which has helped them reclaim second sport behind Whitecroft and Barton Sports, whose game away at Brading Town was a casualty of the weather.
Bembridge, who beat Newchurch 7-0 last week in Division 2, could only see out a goalless draw against the same opponents today.
TODAY'S RESULTS
Sydenhams Wessex Premier Division: Cowes Sports 1, Andover New Street 1.
Sydenhams Wessex Division 1: East Cowes Vics 1, Stoneham 0; Newport 0, Amesbury Town 1.
Harwoods Renault IW League Division 1: Binstead & COB 0, Pan Sports 0; ECS 1, West Wight 0; Sandown 0, Northwood St John 3.
Division 2: Newchurch 0, Bembridge 0.
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