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ISLAND BACK IN PROMOTION PICTURE

Friday, February 22, 2008
Sport/Hockey
Fordingbridge 4, IW II 7
THE Island moved back into the promotion places of the Hampshire Open League after a convincing win at bottom place Fordingbridge.
One of the more encouraging signs of this game was the fact the Island still won despite half the Fordingbridge side being made up of first team players.
After their convincing 9-0 drubbing of Gosport the previous week, the IW started well but for some near misses and saves, they would have been several up by the time Chris Arnold met a cross and diverted the ball into the goal.
This soon became two when Alan Ball slotted home and Felix Stub-bings got his first to make it three.
The home side were never out of it though and gradually came back into the match.
They scored a couple of goals but the Island scored again through an excellent Stubbings solo effort.
Ball rounded off the scoring in the half to give the Island a 5-2 lead.
The second half was much like the first although the goal count reduced somewhat.
The IW switched off for a while, which allowed Fordingbridge to score twice and see a goal correctly disallowed, but a quick-fire brace from the returning Simon Butler sealed the win.
With Aldershot claiming a narrow win at Portsmouth University, the Island moved back into second spot on goal difference, two points behind leaders Bourne-mouth.
Since the game was concluded, the Hamp-shire Hockey Association have penalised Fording-bridge for a breach of rules.
This has resulted in the game being awarded as a 5-0 win to the Island while Fordingbridge see three points deducted, giving them a minus points tally.
Rivals Andover visit Smallbrook tomorrow (Saturday), keen on extracting revenge after the Island secured an against-the-odds 2-1 win in November.