IT WAS a bitter pill to take for struggling Cowes Sports as they lost 2-1 at bottom of the table Bemerton Heath Harlequins in the Sydenhams Wessex Premier League this afternoon.

The hosts took the lead in the first half when Cowes failed to clear their lines.

The Yachtsmen had three good chances to level before the break, but were denied.

However, in the second half, Cowes equalised through Jez Conway, who beat a defender in the box and followed up his own saved shot with a good finish.

It became an end-to-end game then, but Bemerton Heath took the lead late on to sink the Islanders and leave them just outside the relegation zone.

In Sydenhams Wessex Division 1, East Cowes Vics were beaten 3-2 at home to Romsey Town after Elias Ahmed had given Vics the lead after eight minutes.

East Cowes drop to 14th in the table.

Newport fared no better at St Georges' Park, getting hammered 4-0 by high-flying Stoneham, but they remain in eighth place. 

In the Isle of Wight Senior (Gold Cup) first round, Ventnor continued their rich vein of goalscoring form, following their amazing 8-8 result last week, with a 5-1 hammering of East Cowes Sports at Watcombe Bottom.

                                             TODAY'S RESULTS

Sydenhams Wessex Premier League: Bemerton Heath Harlequins 2, Cowes Sports 1.

Sydenhams Wessex Division 1: East Cowes Vics 2, Romsey 3; Newport 0, Stoneham 4.

Isle of Wight Senior (Gold Cup), first round: Ventnor 5, ECS 1; Osborne Coburg 0, Northwood St John 2; Sandown 1, Brading Town 2; Shanklin 4, Binstead & COB 1; West Wight 1, Pan Sports 2.

Island League Division 2: Adgestone 3, Oakfield 5; Bembridge 5, Wootton 1; Brighstone 2, Seaview 4; East Cowes Vics 3, Carisbrooke Utd 3; Wroxall 1, Ryde Saints; Yarmouth & Calbourne 1, Newchurch 14.

Combination 1: Binstead & COB Res 4, Ventnor Res 2; Brading Town Res 8, Sandown Res 0; ECS Res 6, Northwood St John Res 0; Oakfield Res 2, Shanklin Res 2; Ryde Saints Res 3, West Wight 4; Whitecroft & Barton Sports Res 7, Osborne Coburg Res 1.

Combination 2: Wootton Res 1, Niton Community Res 4; Newchurch Res 6, Yarmouth & Calbourne Res 1; Seaview Res 3, Bembridge Res 2.