Latest news with #WessexLeagueDivision1
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
East Cowes Vics in dreamland — Islanders secure Wessex Premier promotion
EAST Cowes Vics have carved their name with pride into a new chapter of Isle of Wight football history by gaining promotion through the Wessex League Division 1 play-offs on penalties. The Islanders, who had to earn promotion to the Premier the hard way this afternoon (Saturday). Scroll down for video After defeating Alresford Town away on Wednesday (April 30), Vics travelled to Surrey and beat the team which finished second in the table, Frimley Green. Ft @official_FGFC 1-1 @ecvafc 2nd half was very scrappy, Frimley through everything at Vics ,scored straight from the corner right at the death. So penalties it is. Your Play off winners are @ecvafc — ThoseWhiteLines (@ThoseWhiteLines) May 3, 2025 In a goalless first half at the KBO Stadium, Vics had arguable the best efforts to break the deadlock. Former Cowes Sports favourite, Gareth Bricknell, rolled back the years to produce an excellent free kick in the 25th minute, which the Frimley keeper had to tip round the post. Vics in action at Frimley Green. (Image: Those White Lines) And an overhead kick by the ever-dangerous Scott Jones, went just wide a minute before the interval. Your @WessexLeague Div 1 Play Off Final Winners @ecvafc — ThoseWhiteLines (@ThoseWhiteLines) May 3, 2025 Vics keeper Alex Ram produced a smart save early in the half too, behind the division's meanest defence. Although the home side had the better of the possession, you would not think they were the club with a playing squad double that of the underdogs, Vics. Alex Smith gave his side plenty of motivation going into the second half, with Elliot Wheeler scoring with a side-footed drive from ten yards out, in the 49th minute. @ecvafc 5 smashes it home 1-0 — ThoseWhiteLines (@ThoseWhiteLines) May 3, 2025 A minute later, after the wild celebrations had died down, Ram was in action again to deny Frimley. Vics almost gave themselves some breathing space just after the hour mark, when Josh Neale fired inches over from a free kick 25 yards out. Ram, who has had another outstanding season in goal for Vics, produced a superb reaction save from a close range header in the 70th minute. It was all hands to pump as Frimley peppered the Vics box with long, hopeful balls — but well defended as the game entered six minutes of added on time. (Image: Those White Lines) Into the third minute of stoppage time, Frimley Green levelled, directly from a corner — the team's first defensive error of the match. Both teams saw out the final few minutes as it went to penalties. Frimley missed the first and Ram saved the third and, with some efficient finishing from the spot, Vics wrapped up promotion 4-1 on penalties. Vics will now be hoping to make it a memorable double by beating Cowes Sports in the Isle of Wight Gold Cup final, at Westwood Park, in a week's time.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
East Cowes Vics in dreamland — Islanders secure Wessex Premier promotion
EAST Cowes Vics have carved their name with pride into a new chapter of Isle of Wight football history by gaining promotion through the Wessex League Division 1 play-offs on penalties. The Islanders, who had to earn promotion to the Premier the hard way this afternoon (Saturday). Scroll down for video After defeating Alresford Town away on Wednesday (April 30), Vics travelled to Surrey and beat the team which finished second in the table, Frimley Green. Ft @official_FGFC 1-1 @ecvafc 2nd half was very scrappy, Frimley through everything at Vics ,scored straight from the corner right at the death. So penalties it is. Your Play off winners are @ecvafc — ThoseWhiteLines (@ThoseWhiteLines) May 3, 2025 In a goalless first half at the KBO Stadium, Vics had arguable the best efforts to break the deadlock. Former Cowes Sports favourite, Gareth Bricknell, rolled back the years to produce an excellent free kick in the 25th minute, which the Frimley keeper had to tip round the post. Vics in action at Frimley Green. (Image: Those White Lines) And an overhead kick by the ever-dangerous Scott Jones, went just wide a minute before the interval. Your @WessexLeague Div 1 Play Off Final Winners @ecvafc — ThoseWhiteLines (@ThoseWhiteLines) May 3, 2025 Vics keeper Alex Ram produced a smart save early in the half too, behind the division's meanest defence. Although the home side had the better of the possession, you would not think they were the club with a playing squad double that of the underdogs, Vics. Alex Smith gave his side plenty of motivation going into the second half, with Elliot Wheeler scoring with a side-footed drive from ten yards out, in the 49th minute. @ecvafc 5 smashes it home 1-0 — ThoseWhiteLines (@ThoseWhiteLines) May 3, 2025 A minute later, after the wild celebrations had died down, Ram was in action again to deny Frimley. Vics almost gave themselves some breathing space just after the hour mark, when Josh Neale fired inches over from a free kick 25 yards out. Ram, who has had another outstanding season in goal for Vics, produced a superb reaction save from a close range header in the 70th minute. It was all hands to pump as Frimley peppered the Vics box with long, hopeful balls — but well defended as the game entered six minutes of added on time. (Image: Those White Lines) Into the third minute of stoppage time, Frimley Green levelled, directly from a corner — the team's first defensive error of the match. Both teams saw out the final few minutes as it went to penalties. Frimley missed the first and Ram saved the third and, with some efficient finishing from the spot, Vics wrapped up promotion 4-1 on penalties. Vics will now be hoping to make it a memorable double by beating Cowes Sports in the Isle of Wight Gold Cup final, at Westwood Park, in a week's time.
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
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.
