THE Isle of Wight's big three clubs all tasted victory in the Buildbase FA Vase.

Cowes Sports thrashed Verwood Town 7-3 at Westwood Park.

It was Verwood who took the lead, with a header on 16 minutes from a free kick controversially awarded to the visitors.

After Gareth Bricknell saw his finish disallowed for offside, Jez Conway equalised for the Yachtsmen.

But another controversial decision to award a penalty to Verwood saw them take the lead just before the break.

The half-time substitution of Jimmy Wykes for Ji Nash made all the difference immediately.

It was a Wykes cross which saw striker, Michael McEnery, draw Cowes level with a firm header.

Ewan Cranwell gave Cowes the lead for the first time in the tie from the penalty spot, but plucky Verwood pulled it back level again.

In this topsy-turvy match, McEnery bagged his second to regain the lead for the Islanders, and Wykes gave them a two-goal cushion with a headed finish for 5-3 on 72 minutes.

The goals didn't end there.

McEnery grabbed his hat-trick and Wykes scored his second late on to complete the rout.

Newport travelled to Wiltshire to take on Devizes Town, beating them 3-1, while East Cowes Vics edged a five-goal thriller against Fareham Town at Beatrice Avenue.

In Division 1 of the Harwoods Island League, leaders Brading Town had a tough match away at third placed Shanklin at the County Ground and won 3-1 to continue their 100 per cent winning start to the season.

Whitecroft and Barton Sports turned it into a two-horse race at the top already, after they hammered a poor Pan Sports outfit 8-1 away, with only two points dropped after eight matches.

The win opened up a six-point gap between them and Shanklin.

Newly-promoted Ryde Saints put in a solid display at Ventnor to win 3-0 and hoist themselves up to mid-table.

In Division 2, Oakfield, one of the favourites to go up this season, crushed Wootton 5-0 away to maintain their 100 per cent start to their season after six games.

                               TODAY'S RESULTS (SATURDAY)

Buildbase FA Vase, second qualifying round: Cowes Sports 7, Verwood Town 3; East Cowes Vics 3, Fareham Town 2; Devizes Town 1, Newport 3.

Harwoods Island League, Division 1: Binstead & COB 5, Bembridge 3; Carisbrooke United 2, Sandown 4; ECS 2, West Wight 1; Northwood St John 4, Cowes Sports Reserves 0; Pan Sports 1, Whitecroft & Barton 8; Shanklin 1, Brading Town 3; Ventnor 0, Ryde Saints 3.

Division 2: Wootton 0, Oakfield 5; East Cowes Vics Res 2, Adgestone 5; Newport Reserves 11, Yarmouth & Calbourne 0; Osborne Coburg 3, Newchurch 3.