COWES Sports put in arguably their grittiest performance of the Sydenhams Wessex Premier season so far to beat Christchurch by a solitary goal at a wet and windy Westwood Park this afternoon.

The only goal of the game came from Yachtsmen defender Jez Conway on 35 minutes.

Slightly against the run of play, Conway powered a header goalward from an excellent Gareth Bricknell free kick from the right, which was superbly saved low to the keeper's right, but Conway had the wits about him to blast home the loose ball. 

It was tetchy game with a lot of strong challenges made by both sides and it boiled over mid-way through the second half when a Christchurch player was given a straight red card for an off-the-ball clash with Cowes skipper John McKie.

About five minutes later, Cowes were also down to ten men when Jimmy Wykes was harshly yellow carded for a challenge, his second bookable offence.

Cowes were under the cosh towards the end and defended superbly at times, with Tom Dye injured after throwing his body on the line to block a goal-bound piledriver.

It was a poor day for both the Isle of Wight's Sydenhams Wessex Division 1 sides.

Newport were hammered 4-0 at Romsey Town, while East Cowes Vics were beaten 4-2 at Alton, to leave them both in the lower reaches of the table.

                                             TODAY'S RESULTS

Sydenhams Wessex Premier: Cowes Sports 1, Christchurch 0.

Sydenhams Wessex Division 1: Romsey Town 4, Newport 0; Alton 4, East Cowes Vics 2.

Hampshire Intermediate Cup, first round: Petersfield 1, East Cowes Sports 7; Sandown 0, Whitecroft & Barton Sports 4; Athletico Romsey 1, Osborne Coburg 4; Pan Sports 4, New Milton Town Reserves 3; Brading Town 4, Hedge End Town 1; Ventnor 4, Sholing FC Reserves 1.

Harwoods Island League Division 1: Shanklin 1, Northwood St John 2; West Wight 3, Cowes Sports 0.

Division 2: Bembridge 6, East Cowes Vics A 2; Newchurch 2, Niton Community 1; Ryde Saints 9, Carisbrooke Utd 1; Seaview 3, Brighstone 1; Yarmouth & Calbourne 1, Adgestone 12.

Combination 1: Binstead & COB Res 2, Brading Town Res 4; ECS Res 0, Shanklin Res 0; Northwood St Johns Res 5, Ryde Saints Res 4; Osborne Coburg Res 0, Ventnor Res 7.

Combination 2: Bembridge Res 2, Ryde Saints A 1; Niton Community Res 4, Wootton Res 2; Seaview Res 2, Newchurch Res 4.