IT'S HARD to believe we're barely half-way through the season and this coming Tuesday's Division 1 match between the top two sides — Shanklin and Whitecroft and Barton Sports — could already prove to be crucial in the race for the title.

Both sides have started to open a little shaft of daylight between them and the other chasing clubs — three games after lockdown measures were eased — after both winning tough games on paper yesterday (Saturday).

Isle of Wight County Press: W&B forward Freddy Knowles (wearing 10) leaps to nod home the first goal against Cowes Sports Reserves on Saturday.W&B forward Freddy Knowles (wearing 10) leaps to nod home the first goal against Cowes Sports Reserves on Saturday.

W&B produced a great 3-0 win away at a strong Cowes Sports Reserves side, packed with a lot of Wessex Premier first team experience in their ranks.

It was nice win for boss Steve Rayner who celebrated his birthday on Thursday.

Freddy Knowles, Josh Appell and Charlie Urry were on target for the reds at an unusually quiet Westwood Park, due to Covid regulations.

Isle of Wight County Press: W&B forward Josh Appell (wearing 9), slots home the second goal against Cowes Sports Reserves on Saturday.W&B forward Josh Appell (wearing 9), slots home the second goal against Cowes Sports Reserves on Saturday.

Shanklin had an equally tricky game hosting Northwood St John at the Recreation Ground, beating them 2-0.

Brading followed up their huge win over Ventnor in midweek to hammer Vectis 5-1 at Vicarage Lane.

The Romans sit five points behind W&B in third, with a game in hand and they play them on Saturday — a massive six-pointer, even at this stage of the season.

Isle of Wight County Press: W&B stopper Gareth True pulls off a great save against Cowes Sports Reserves in Division 1 on Saturday.W&B stopper Gareth True pulls off a great save against Cowes Sports Reserves in Division 1 on Saturday.

Meanwhile, West Wight continue their own good form with a comfortable 2-0 win over Sandown to stay fourth, also with a game in hand on W&B and just a point further adrift.

ECS have quietly slipped under the radar to move up to fifth to join the chasing pack with their fourth win on the bounce — beating Ventnor 2-0 to leave them rooted to the foot of the table.

Isle of Wight County Press: Cowes Sports Reserves put the W&B defence under pressure. Cowes Sports Reserves put the W&B defence under pressure.

Second bottom Carisbrooke United, with the worst defensive record in the division, were trounced 7-2 at improving Ryde Saints.

The top of the table clash between leaders Oakfield and second-placed Niton Community was abandoned after only 30 minutes of play.

Oakfield went 3-0 up inside the first 16 minutes, but referee Ian Smith halted the game when a Niton player suffered ligament damage and was eventually taken to St Mary's Hospital.

Isle of Wight County Press: W&B keeper Gareth True makes an important catch under pressure in the Division 1 clash with Cowes Sports Reserves on Saturday.W&B keeper Gareth True makes an important catch under pressure in the Division 1 clash with Cowes Sports Reserves on Saturday.

The Isle of Wight Divisional Football Association committee have yet to decide if the game should be replayed.   

                                          YESTERDAY'S RESULTS (SATURDAY)
Harwoods Renault Island League, Division 1: Binstead & COB 0, Bembridge 2; Brading Town 5, Vectis 1; Cowes Sports Reserves 0, Whitecroft & Barton Sports 3; Ryde Saints 7, Carisbrooke United 2; Shanklin 2, Northwood St John 0; Ventnor 0, ECS 2; West Wight 2, Sandown 0.

Division 2: Wootton 2, Osborne Coburg 2; Oakfield v Niton Community (match abandoned after 30 minutes); Pan Sports 6, Newchurch 0; Newport A 2, Seaview 6; Yarmouth & Calbourne 2, Adgestone 1.

Combination 1: Carisbrooke United Reserves 1, Oakfield Reserves 4; ECS Reserves 3, West Wight Reserves 3; Northwood St John Reserves 5, Binstead & COB Reserves 1; Ryde Saints Reserves 5, Seaview Reserves 0; Sandown Reserves 0, Brading Town Reserves 3; Whitecroft & Barton Sports Reserves 1, Shanklin Reserves 1.

Combination 2: Bembridge Reserves 5, Wootton Reserves 1; Newchurch Reserves 0, Yarmouth & Calbourne Reserves 3; Osborne Coburg Reserves 5, Sandown A 1; Vectis Reserves 5, Ryde Saints A 0.
                                                                  TUESDAY'S FIXTURES
Division 1: Brading Town v Bembridge; Cowes Sports Reserves v Ventnor; Northwood St John v ECS; Sandown v Carisbrooke United; Shanklin v Whitecroft & Barton Sports; West Wight v Binstead & COB.

Division 2: Wootton v Adgestone; Niton Communty v Newport A; Osborne Coburg v Newchurch; Pan Sports v Oakfield; Wroxall v Seaview.

                                                                        WEDNESDAY
Combination 1: Binstead & COB Reserves v Sandown Reserves; Brading Town Reserves v West Wight Reserves; Carisbrooke United Reserves v Ryde Saints Reserves; ECS Reserves v Shanklin Reserves; Oakfield Reserves v Seaview Reserves; Whitecroft & Barton Sports Reserves v Northwood St John Reserves.

Combination 2: Niton Community Reserves v Bembridge Reserves; Osborne Coburg Reserves v Newchurch Reserves; Sandown A v Wootton Reserves; Vectis Reserves v Yarmouth & Calbourne Reserves.