AFTER a perfect start to the season in the Sydenhams Wessex Premier League, life without boss Steve Hunt just became a little less cheery for Cowes Sports — coming back down to earth with a bump after being well beaten by Baffins Milton Rovers.

Having gone a goal down on 25 minutes, Cowes showed some of their early season battling qualities by equalising with an own goal from a pinpoint John McKie cross two minutes later.

But the Yachtsmen were sunk with two more first half goals and another late on — shades of their away form last season. 

It could have been much worse for Cowes had Baffins converted a second half penalty.

In Sydenhams Wessex Division 1, the Isle of Wight's two representatives chalked up their first victories of the season.

Newport beat Petersfield 2-0 at St George's Park to continue their unbeaten start, while East Cowes Vics comfortably beat New Milton Town 3-0, with all the goals coming in the first half, with goals by Jimmi Burton, Keelan Walsh and Elias Ahmed.

Last season's Harwoods Renault Island League Division 1 champions Whitecroft & Barton Sports could only manage to grab a point at East Cowes Sports, while last season's runaway Division 2 champions, Pan Sports, won 2-0 away at Cowes Sports Reserves.

Sandown won a nine-goal thriller 5-4 away at Ventnor on what was a high-scoring afternoon in the division.

  • For match reports and goalscorer details, see this coming Friday's Isle of Wight County Press.

                                                   ALL THE RESULTS

Sydenhams Wessex League, Premier Division: Baffins Milton Rovers 4, Cowes 1.
Division 1: East Cowes Vics 3, New Milton Town 0; Newport 2, Petersfield 0.

Harwoods Renault Island League, Division 1: Binstead & COB 0, West Wight 1; Brading Town 6, Osborne Coburg 0; Cowes Sports Res 0, Pan Sports 2; ECS 1, Whitecroft & Barton Sports 1; Shanklin 4, Newport Res 0; Ventnor 4, Sandown 5.

Division 2: Adgestone 1, AFC Wootton 3; Brighstone 1, Newchurch 2; Oakfield 5, East Cowes Vics A 1; Ryde Saints 8, St Helens Blue Star 2; Seaview 5, Yarmouth and Calbourne 1; Wroxall 3, Niton Community 4.