SHANKLIN remain top of Division 1 of the Isle of Wight Saturday League with a hard-fought victory, while defending champions Whitecroft and Barton Sports hang on to their coat-tails.
With every result from now until the end of the season like a cup final for the division's top teams, there will be a degree of nerves, amid the rustiness of returning from a four-month lay-off due to Christmas and the third lockdown which immediately followed.
Shanklin had a tricky game away at improving Ryde Saints — snatching a 2-1 victory.
Meanwhile, it was back-to-back 1-0 wins for W&B in the space of a few days — this time at home to a decent Cowes Sports Reserves side, boosted by some current and former first team players not playing any more Wesssex League Premier football this season.