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Brading Town s Harris Payne (wearing green), third left, tries to tackle W&B defender Martin McDonough, who normally stars as Newport s skipper in the Sydenhams Wessex League. FILE SINCE outdoor team sports were reintroduced as we come out of a third lockdown, debate across local grassroots football followers has raged about the fairness of leading Island clubs taking Wessex players to boost their chances of winning the Isle of Wight’s Division 1 title. Wessex players with Cowes Sports, Newport and East Cowes Vics became available once their season was declared null and void for a second time.
Brading s Aaron Burford, left, who normally plays for Cowes Sports, comes up against W&B forward Matt Evans. FILE
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W&B Edge Out Shanklin In Six-Goal Thriller To Go Top
By Jamie White
Whitecroft and Barton (W&B) have gone top of the Isle of Wight Saturday Football Division 1, after beating title rivals, Shanklin.
In front of a crowd of around 200 people at the County Ground, the visitors got off to the perfect start, taking the lead inside the first ten minutes.
An out-swinging corner was flicked on for Matt Evans to nod the ball in from inside the six-yard box.
Featuring several Wessex League players, the away side doubled their lead just moments later when centre back, Marty McDonough, headed home after a flick on from a free kick. McDonough - captain of Newport FC - is one of a number of players who signed for Island Saturday league teams when the Wessex League was cancelled due to coronavirus restrictions.