None of our Isle of Wight Wessex League sides suffered defeat this weekend, but only one of them was able to secure three points.

Cowes Sports 2-2 Andover New Street

At Westwood Park, Premier Division side Cowes Sports welcomed Andover New Street.

Both sides started the game brightly, and an early appeal for a penalty from the home side was ignored, whilst the Andover skipper cleared a dangerous cross at the far post.

On 17 minutes, Andover took the lead. Yachtsmen keeper Ed Hatt was put in some difficulty after a poor back pass enabled Layton Tulk to gain possession and find the corner of the net.

Despite John McKie causing the visitors some problems on both flanks, it the Andover who struck again on the 45-minute mark.

Cowes defender George Colson was caught in possession, and the ball went loose into the path of Lewis Williams, who steered the ball home to make it two-nil at the break.

The Yachtsmen came out stronger in the second half, but Andover defended well and kept the score in their favour until the 67th minute.

Great work on the right between George Colson and Ewan Cranwell led to a ball whipped into the box, which found the head of Connor Kelly, who headed across the goal and in at the far post.

Five minutes later, Cowes found an equaliser.

A cross in from Cranwell was brought down by Fin Phillips, who turned on the edge of the box and passed left, via a dummy from William Bridi, into Kelly’s feet, who fired a first-time shot into the bottom right corner.

The second Cowes goal pushed Andover onto the defensive, and despite some good pressure, the Yachtsmen could not find the winner.

Cowes sit in eighth place, six points behind Brockenhurst – who occupy fifth, the final play-off spot – but with a game in hand over the mainlanders.

Next up for Cowes is a trip to fellow play-off hopefuls Laverstock and Ford on Tuesday night (March 19).

Newport 1 – 0 Romsey Town

Newport completed four games in eight days with the visit of midtable Romsey Town – despite having five first-team players missing.

Ahead of kick-off, talisman striker Browne was presented with a trophy to mark his 200th appearance for the club.

Isle of Wight County Press: Joe Butcher scores the only goal of the gameJoe Butcher scores the only goal of the game (Image: Graham Brown)

The one goal of the game came after ten minutes when Joe Butcher charged down Romsey’s number-one Mile Bartram’s clearance and, with an open goal in front of him, tucked it home.

Newport played some lovely one-touch football on a tricky surface for the rest of the half.

The second half was a carbon copy of the first, with Romsey playing some neat football but never looking like finding an equaliser and Newport inviting unnecessary pressure but still looking the most likely to score.

Butcher found Bartram’s legs a constant barrier, and Jordan Browne had a goal-bound header brilliantly tipped over before seeing a second header crash against the bar.

Isle of Wight County Press: Jordan Browne's second half header hit the crossbarJordan Browne's second half header hit the crossbar (Image: Graham Brown)(See more photos from Newport vs Romsey Town in the gallery at the top of the article. Courtesy of Graham Brown)

Youngster George Holebrooke came on for his Newport debut, replacing Tommy Jackson after 53 minutes, and did an effective job on the right.

After a lengthy period of injury time, Port eventually celebrated another three points.

To match the match highlights, see the Newport website HERE. 

Next up for Newport is a trip across the Solent to visit promotion-hopefuls Millbrook on Tuesday night.

Alresford Town 1-1 East Cowes Vics

Meanwhile, East Cowes Vics were held to a draw on the road at Alresford Town – who sit just one spot above the Islanders in the play-off places.

Vics went into the break one-nil up, thanks to a stunning free-kick struck by striker Jez Conway.

(See the free-kick below, courtesy of ThoseWhiteLines)

Not long into the second half, Alresford were down to 10 men after Mikey Douglas picked up a second yellow.

Vics held on until the 89th minute before conceding, a last-minute goal from Alresford’s Jamie Barnes securing a point for the home side.

The Island side remain in the place-off places, but with Fleetlands breathing down their neck just three points behind and with two games in hand, can Vic’s hold on?

Vics’ next challenge comes on Tuesday, when they welcome midtable Fawley AFC to Beatrice Avenue.

Isle of Wight County Press: Vics against Alresford TownVics against Alresford Town (Image: ThoseWhiteLines)