TWO ISLE of Wight Wessex League sides took all three points in the fierce sunshine at the weekend.
East Cowes Vics welcomed Clanfield to Beatrice Avenue, and after four consecutive draws, they needed all three points to keep up their playoff hopes alive.
Before the game, Vics’ captain Liam Newbold picked up an award for his 250th appearance for the club.
The Islanders started the game well and took the lead on four minutes, Newbold’s clearance falling to an onrushing Scott Jones who took the ball in his stride and chipped the keeper.
Josh Neale almost doubled his side’s advantage just three minutes later, and on 23 minutes, Clanfield had there first chance of game but fired over the crossbar.
Chances were few and far between thereafter, with Vics leading at the break.
Second half, it took just four minutes for the Islanders to extend their lead – Josh Neale finishing smartly into the bottom corner, Elliott Wheeler the provider.
Shortly after, Clanfield cut the deficit, profiting from a cross into the box.
The Islanders kept the ball well in the wake of Clanfield’s goal, and on 54 minutes, a sublime run from Josh Neale yielded another goal.
Neale picked out Wheeler, who hammered home from the edge of the six-yard box.
Neale himself spurned three further chances to bag himself a brace at the very least, and Wheeler had another two efforts well saved.
The game ended 3-1, and the result means the club have officially secured a playoff position.
Fellow Division One side Newport, meanwhile, got the better of Fawley AFC on the road.
Newport made the trip to a scorchingly hot Brickability Stadium and carried on their recent form, taking their 9th point from the last 12 available.
Chances were few and far between in the first half.
Fawley took the lead through an own goal: a speculative cross grazing Mikey Thompsett’s head and sailing into the top corner.
But the Islanders gradually found their rhythm, with some solid individual performances.
One of the better moves of the half saw Ji Nash force a fine save.
Newport's equalizer came two minutes before the break, as Kai Grace, having switched flanks, got the better of the right-back and was brought down in the box.
Nash calmly converted, scoring his 20th league goal of the season.
After the break, following more selfless running from Nash, he too was bundled over in the box.
This time, he calmly slotted home his 21st goal of the season, sending the goalkeeper the wrong way.
Newport controlled the remainder of the match, with the home keeper making several exceptional saves to prevent the scoreline from becoming even more one-sided.
Even when captain Macauley Watterson was sin-binned late on, the ten men held firm, with Jez Conway deputising for Marty McDonogh and putting in a solid performance throughout.
The game ended 1-2.
