Kayton Evans makes an acrobatic save for Pan Sports against Brading Town on Saturday. Picture by Mavis Siddons.
FOOTBALL
BRADING Town made a triumphant start to life in Harwoods Vauxhall IW Saturday League, Division 1, but were pushed all the way by Pan Sports.
The Romans won 3-2, with goals from Danny Vale, Brian Attrill and Ollie Wilson, though Pan goals from Mark Taylor and Ashley Gulliver kept them in touch.
Meanwhile, reigning champions West Wight enjoyed a 2-0 win over Ryde Saints, with Adam Millar and Danny Ross on target, while Northwood also made a positive start.
They defeated Ventnor (Craig Kirby, two), 6-2, with goals from Jason Malcolmson, two, Leigh Mackenzie, Andy Lane, John Bilton and Michael Pointer.
Goals from Craig Insley, Arthur Bradbury and Robbie Taylor saw Cowes Sports Reserves earn a 3-1 win over Osborne Coburg (Carl Phillipson), while Oakfield defeated Shanklin 1-0, Phil McDonald scoring.
Niton defeated GKN in a 4-3 win, with goals from Lee Stewart, Brett Kirby, Charlie Urry and Brian McGuire. For GKN, Lee Cotton scored twice, with Gary Richardson adding their third.
In Division 2, newly promoted Vectis Nomads were locked in a thrilling 5-5 battle with Binstead COB, for whom Jack Morris struck twice and Isaac Hudson, Jordan Love and Zak Younie scored one each.
For Nomads, Jermaine Mortimer bagged a hat-trick, while Jamie Jardine and Christopher Reeves scored one each.
Sandown defeated Newchurch 3-0, (Chris Fletcher, Tom Bleach and Scott Eastman), while St Helens beat Seaview (Andy Peacock) 5-1, with goals from Jamie Waldren, Rob Kirby, Tim Corbett, Nick Cade and Gavin Dicker.
Yarmouth and Calbourne took all three points at Brighstone with a 1-0 win.
In Division 3, AFC Wootton — formerly Wakes — began a new era with a 3-1 win over Kyngs Towne (Bradley Price), with goals from Sam Smith, Steve Rayner and Martin Wren.
Another new team, Wight Cherries, did not enjoy such a good start, losing 6-3 to Wroxall. Patrick Mackinney, Declan Leach and Tom Riordan scored for Cherries but for Wroxall, Carl Mooney, two, Norbert Gyanyi, two, Lee Simpkins and Rich Cass, were on target.
Josh Craig was the hero for Ryde Saints A, saving a penalty to deny Shanklin A victory.
The sides drew 1-1, with Ryan Day scoring for Shanklin, and Kane Salmon scoring for Saints.
l Seaview reached the final of the Ryde and District Cup last week, defeating St Helens 3-1, with goals from Lewis Fleming, Kirk Austin and James Crofts. They had earlier beaten Ryde Saints on penalties in the quarter-final.