THE Isle of Wight Beach Soccer team reigned supreme again by retaining the English national title they won last year.
Playing at Canford Cliffs, between Poole and Bournemouth, the team made it their fourth major trophy on the bounce by scooping the England Beach Soccer Elite Cup yesterday (Sunday).
Winning this time around was made all the more special for their skipper, Caymen Collins, who went into the tournament missing key players — most notably, goalkeeper Tommy Jackson, who was playing in the Spanish League.
Jackson made his debut in Spain, scoring and making two assists.
Collins turned to the youth ranks — the majority of the squad having already competed in the Madjer Cup and at two world youth events.
"It was those players who battled to victory, against a strong and experienced Eastleigh side," said Luke Kerr, the team's manager.
Led by Collins and Jack Morris, who played superbly, Isle of Wight never gave up and, despite being, 3-1 down in the final, the side showed their class by battling back with goals from Thomas Grandvoinet and Callum Pye-Poulter.
Dexter Collins, who took the number one shirt from Jackson, proved to have safe hands, and was agile from the first whistle, Kerr adds.
Eastleigh, who looked to have the trophy in their hands and a first English title, were pegged back to 3-3 in the last minute of the final.
Buoyed by their never-say-die attitude, the Islanders went on to beat Eastleigh on penalties, with the captain, Collins, taking the winning kick to seal the title and his fourth championship trophy for the Isle of Wight.
The Islanders also beat Portsmouth 6-3 along the way — a side which will be heading into the Euros and who had earlier beaten finalists Eastleigh.
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