All three of our Isle of Wight Wessex League sides were in FA Vase action on Saturday (September 21), with two crashing out and one moving on to the second round.
Scroll down to see the full Saturday football results
Fareham 4-0 Cowes Sports
Premier division strugglers Cowes travelled to promotion hopefuls Fareham in their first-round match in this year’s FA Vase.
Despite Cowes having the better of the early chances, it was Fareham ultimately ended the first half the stronger side, with the score at the half-time whistle remaining 0-0.
Again, the Yachtsmen had the best early chance in the half, a header over the bar by Ryan Oatley, but who opened the scoring in the 51st.
The home side’s left winger received the ball up the line and cut inside, turning Cowes substitute Jared Tout-Walter inside out and shooting in off the near post.
Fareham doubled their lead 20 minutes later. A ball down the middle was saved well by Yachtsmen keeper Ed Hatt, but the ball deflected back and resulted in a volley rocketing into the corner.
Cowes felt hard done by when the Fareham striker tapped in a third moments later, believing Jordan Cook was manhandled off the ball.
The misery continued for the Yachtsmen as three minutes later, a Fareham corner on the right was played short and cut back, beating the Cowes defender, and a shot across the goal found the top corner.
Three goals were conceded in just eight minutes.
Cowes Sports crashed out of the FA Vase and will turn their attention to saving their Premier Division campaign.
Blackfield & Langley 2-3 East Cowes Vics
Vics travelled to Premier Division side Blackfield & Langley, near Fawley, as underdogs in their FA Vase clash.
However, the visitors got off to a great start and, in the 19th minute, were celebrating their first of the game.
A superb play down the left side led to Adam Voller finding Scott JONES in the box, who chested it down and volleyed it in off the post.
Blackfield looked the brighter side at the start of the second half, applying a lot of pressure and earning their reward in the 65th.
A poorly defended corner resulted in a Blackfield header bouncing over the line to level the game, and just over ten minutes later, the home side scored their second after Vics failed to clear the ball.
Vics hit back just moments later. A low shot at the keeper by Harrison YATES appeared to hit the hands of the keeper before trickling into the net.
Jacob REYNOLDS was on hand to win the match for Vics just seven minutes from time.
A beautiful through ball found him, and he calmly slotted the ball past the on-rushing Blackfield keeper.
A scrappy game, but Vics will not mind as they progress into the second round.
Newport 0-1 Verwood
Meanwhile, Newport welcomed fellow Division 1 side Verwood to Beatrice Avenue.
In the first half, Port dominated possession and got into the better positions, but in the final third lacked the killer instinct.
Newport, usually strong from set pieces, could not provide their usual threat, with the majority of free kicks for both sides occurring in the centre of the pitch.
The second half was a carbon copy of the first, half chances for Jordan Browne and Brad Young with their heads were the best Port had to offer.
Verwood were kept at bay by the defensive partnership of George Holbrook and Macauley Watterson, with keeper Leon Pitman rarely forced into action.
The defining moment came in the 75th when Keelan Walsh got the wrong side of a Verwood attacker and pulled his shirt in the box – resulting in a penalty.
Verwood’s spot-kick was cooly slotted home despite Pitman guessing the right way.
Port had a final push for an equaliser, but Verwood hung on to progress into the next round.
Saturday football results
FA Vase, first preliminary round: Fareham Town 4, Cowes Sports 0; Blackfield & Langley 2, East Cowes Vics 3; Newport 0, Verwood Town 1.
Island League, Division 1: Binstead & COB 3, Brading Town 2; Shanklin 1, West Wight 2; Cowes Sports Reserves 3, Bembridge 1; Vectis 1, Whitecroft & Barton Sports 3; Ventnor 4, Northwood St Johns 0
Division 2: Ryde Saints 5, Newchurch 2; High Park 4, Oakfield 3; Newport Reserves 0, Sandown & Lake 8; Seaview 0, ECS 21
Combination 1: Northwood St John Res 2, High Park Res 1; Brading Town Res 1, W&B Sports Res 2; Osborne Coburg Res 6, Binstead & COB Res 4; Sandown & Lake Res 4, Bembridge Res 2; West Wight Res H, Shanklin Res W
Combination 2: Newchurch 3, Sandown & Lake A 6; Oakfield Res 4, Bembridge A 3; Osborne Coburg A 11, High Park A 3; Vectis Res A, West Wight A W; Ventnor A 6, Ryde Saints Res 2
Upcoming fixtures
Tuesday, September 24
Wessex League Division 1: East Cowes Vics v Romsey Town (7.45pm).
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