ISLAND FOOTBALL
Goalmouth action in the game between Cowes Sports Reserves and title holders Whitecroft and Barton Sports in Division 1 of the Isle of Wight Saturday League. Photos: Sandra Power IT S HARD to believe we re barely half-way through the season and this coming Tuesday s Division 1 match between the top two sides Shanklin and Whitecroft and Barton Sports could already prove to be crucial in the race for the title. Both sides have started to open a little shaft of daylight between them and the other chasing clubs three games after lockdown measures were eased after both winning tough games on paper yesterday (Saturday).
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.
THE East Cowes Vics match at home to high flying Alton was a game of three kick-offs one at the start, one to begin the second half and a third at full time when both sides brawled on the touchline. In an ill-tempered game at Beatrice Avenue, in which Alton led 3-1 going into the final few minutes, Vics were controversially denied a penalty.
Ji Nash in action for Vics against Alton. Photo: Graham Brown With the referee poised to blow up for full time, a variety of off-the-ball incidents lit the blue touch paper for a mass brawl involving almost all the players of both sides.