COWES Sports came away from hammering Laverstock & Ford — featuring a John McKie hat-trick — with the wind in their sails.

LAVERSTOCK & FORD 2, COWES SPORTS 5

The Yachtsmen, co-managed by Ian Potts and Mark Woodhouse, are proving themselves a formidable duo since taking over from Max Draper a month ago.

They've climbed from rock bottom to 13th in the Wessex Premier — and seen confidence soar with it.

Up against a side struggling just below Cowes in the table, this was an important six-pointer.

After just four minutes, Cook dispossessed a Laverstock player about 35 yards out and plays it out to McKie, who slots it home first time. 

Three minutes later, McKie hit his and Cowes's second — smashing home a pinpoint Scott McFarlane cross from about 12 yards.

On 20 minutes, with Cowes dominant, a whipped Fin Phillips free kick sailed over the keeper, but was cleared off the line.

McKie, on fire, completed his treble superbly — taking a Jimmy Mumford cross in his stride, and burying it in the corner and 3-0 is how it stayed at the interval.

Laverstock came out fighting in the second half and were awarded a penalty, controversially, for holding, on 53 minutes, which pulled it back to 3-1.

But on 72 minutes, a Phillips free kick caught out the keeper, who watched it bounce over him, against the bar, and away to safety.

Seven minutes later, Wright hit an excellent free kick to the back post, which found Ryan Oatley, who timed his run superbly to nod home.

With a few minutes remaining, a Laverstock effort crashed back off the bar, hit Hatt's back, but the alert keeper scrambled back to save before it crossed the line.

A minute from time, Cowes were awarded a penalty, which Phillips dispatched, to make it 5-1.

In the 90th minute, however, the referee awarded a penalty the other way, which was scored.

Afterwards, Woodhouse said: "Lavvy away is always a tough fixture, but the boys worked really, really hard. We worked on our shape all week, in and out of possession.

"They were tremendous today, across the board. A fantastic efforts by all the lads."

RINGWOOD TOWN 1, NEWPORT 1

GOALKEEPER Leon Pitman was the man of the match for Port — helping the yellows earn a great point on the road thanks to a string of outstanding saves.

Newport looked dangerous down the flanks early on, but Pitman kept it goalless thanks to a great early save.

The Ringwood keeper made a brilliant double save to deny Port the lead after 34 minutes.

Pitman really showed his class two minutes before half-time, saving a penalty, to keep it goalless.

Four minutes after the interval, Port take the lead — Joe Butcher's shot trickling under the despairing keeper.

But a lack of concentration, saw Ringwood level less than a minute later from a deflected shot, then moments later, Pitman comes to the rescue again, saving in a one-on-situation.

In a frenetic finale, joe Craig thought he'd won it deep into injury time, but his shot hit the corner of post and bar.

(Image: Russ Chapman) EAST COWES VICS 2, LYMINGTON TOWN 4 

THE better, more focused team won in what may have been East Cowes Vics' worst performance of the season so far, when they entertained Lymington at Beatrice Avenue.

Fresh from their superb FA Vase victory a week earlier, Vics went into the game missing a lot of key players.

Lymington started strongly,  scoring the opener after eight minutes.

Vic’s responded with efforts from Charlie Hart and Jacob Reynolds, but both missed the target.

In the second half, Lymington doubled their lead, but Vics pulled one back to 2-1 through a Hart header in the 65th minute.

However, Lymington quickly restored the two-goal advantage.

Despite Scott Jones scoring late for Vics to make it 3-2, the visitors sealed victory with a stunning long-range goal.

Manager Alex Smith said: "We need to learn from our mistakes."

TODAY'S RESULTS (SATURDAY)
Wessex League, Premier Division: Laverstock & Ford 2, Cowes Sports 5.
Wessex League, Division 1: East Cowes Vics 2, Lymington Town 4; Ringwood Town 1, Newport 1.
Island League, Division 1: Brading Town 2, Bembridge 0; West Wight 1, Vectis 4; Whitecroft & Barton Sports 3, Ventnor 1.
Division 2: Pan Community 5, Niton 3; Ryde Saints 1, High Park 4; Sandown & Lake 13, Newport Reserves 0; Seaview 1, Newchurch 8.
Combination 1: ECS Reserves 4, Whitecroft & Barton Sports Reserves 1; High Park Reserves 4, Brading Town Reserves 2; Northwood St John’s Reserves 4, Shanklin Reserves 4; Ventnor Reserves 0, Binstead & COB Reserves 1.
Combination 2: High Park A 2, Newchurch Reserves 1; Niton Reserves 2, Osborne Coburg A 2; Oakfield Reserves 13, Vectis Reserves 0; West Wight A 1, Bembridge A 3.