01-05-2025
Victory for Vics in dramatic Wessex League play-off semi-final
EAST Cowes Vics have made more history by booking their spot in the Wessex League Division 1 play-off final.
ALRESFORD TOWN 1, EAST COWES VICS 2
Vics have made it after beating their Hampshire rivals in a thrilling play-off semi-final last night (Wednesday).
The match — played like a full-blooded cup tie — saw both teams battle for a place in the final at Frimley Green, near Camberley, Surrey, on Saturday (May 3).
Vics manager Alex Smith selected young player Charlie Hart to start, keeping the rest of the team, which has boasted the division's best defence this season, unchanged.
The match began with both defences on top in a fascinating, nerve-jangling first half stalemate.
Although Vics keeper Alex Ram was called into action in the eighth minute, he had little else to do.
Josh Neale's driving run and shot was saved just two minutes later.
Scott Jones had the best chance for Vics with a long-distance effort that went over the bar.
Vics came out in the second half looking much more determined.
Hart came close just five minutes in, and Harrison Yates saw his powerful effort punched clear four minutes later.
But Vics' pressure paid off when they took the lead in the 62nd minute.
A defence-splitting pass from Aedan Coode caused chaos, allowing Toby Snow to walk the ball into an empty net after a mix-up between the keeper and his own player.
Alresford equalised in the 72nd minute, but Vics responded superbly by regaining the lead just three minutes later — Elliott Wheeler's powerful header from a corner making it 2-1.
Vics continued to press, with Raff Boyd-Kerr unlucky with his decent strike in the 79th minute.
An Alresford effort in the 88th minute thundered against the crossbar and was cleared, much to the relief of the travelling Vics fans.
The match saw eight minutes of added time, during which Gareth Bricknell saw an excellent effort just miss the target.
The referee eventually blew for full time in the 98th minute of a nail-biting period of added on time, to confirm Vics' historic place in the final.
Vics fan Russ Chapman was at the match.
He said: "Little Vics in the play-off final! Absolutely awesome.
"It was a proper game of football — and a great crowd.
"Both teams had their minds set on the prize, with defending at its highest level.
"Every player was immense, but Scott (Jones) was everywhere.
"Class, pure class."
Kick off for the final, at the KBO Stadium, will be at 3pm.
