TWO Isle of Wight Wessex League clubs were in action today (Saturday, December 13), as the Yachtsmen snatched a home win and Vics suffered an agonising late collapse.
COWES SPORTS 2, PORTLAND UNITED 1
The Yachtsmen returned to winning ways in the Premier Division at the Zilch Waste Stadium.
Will Bridi made his long-awaited return to the squad after more than a year on the sideline, and new signing Harrison Taylor featured for the first time since his switch from Newport.
Cowes began brightly and took the lead on 23 minutes through striker Scott McFarlane.
Portland responded shortly after the interval, finding an equaliser that shifted momentum and forced Cowes on the back foot.
Just after the hour mark, the visitors thought they had gone ahead, only for celebrations to be cut short when the referee spotted a foul throw in the build-up.
Introduced from the bench, Bridi needed less than five minutes to make his mark.
He surged the length of the pitch before driving a powerful strike across the Portland keeper to seal all three points for the Yachtsmen with 12 minutes remaining.
Cowes now turn their attention to cup action, travelling to Laverstock and Ford on Tuesday (December 12) in the third round of the Wessex League Cup.
BAFFINS MILTON ROVERS 3, EAST COWES VICS 2
East Cowes Vics produced a spirited first-half display but ultimately left empty-handed after conceding twice in the closing minutes.
Vics set the tone with high intensity and deservedly took the lead before the half-hour mark through Jake Wright, who placed a powerful striker low to the Baffins keeper’s right.
Their advantage grew just seven minutes later, as Elliot Wheeler put the visitors firmly in control at 2-0, scoring from a tight angle.
The momentum shifted after the break, with Baffins reducing the deficit on 62 minutes through their skipper and increasingly threatening as Vics began to tire.
Vics, who had shown such purpose early on, were pushed deeper and deeper in the final stages.
Baffins equalised from a corner in the 83rd and, sensing vulnerability, completed the turnaround three minutes later, through the same attacker and another header.
Vics will look to regroup ahead of their next league fixture away to Hamble Club next Saturday (December 20).
In Division 1, Newport’s scheduled trip to Blackfield and Langley was postpone due to a waterlogged pitch.
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