East Cowes Victoria 3–3 Andover Town

Match report kindly given by Russ Chapman from East Cowes. Thank you Russ much appreciated !!

"Vics welcomed Andover Town to Beatrice Avenue for this Wessex league division 1 game. With Vics hoping to gain points after last weeks home defeat by Infinity , it looked like at one stage there would be no game as the visitors were nowhere to be seen at 14.40pm but their struggle to get access to the Island was achieved after a traffic problem caused them to miss their booked sailing and then transfer problems, which arose on the Island gave them very little time to prepare for the game. The referee delayed the start for 15minutes so we had a 15.15pm ko.

Vics started the brighter of the two sides , Andover obviously still awakening from their delays. Kade Woodford , Vics young left back starting brighter than anyone with 3 very dangerous balls floated into the box in the first 5 minutes. In the 6th minute Harry Catania won a free kick just outside of the 18yard area, Kade Woodford floated in another beauty, the Andover defence was unable to deal with the pressure from Vics players and the ball fell to HARRY CATANIA who drilled the ball low past the Andover keeper. 1-0

Vics continued to press but got caught out in the 17th minute when Andovers number 11 Ben Emans raced down the line and crossed in perfectly for JOSHUA BERTIE to tap home from 2 yards.1-1.

The game was now opening up and half chances for both sides were not taken. In the 29th minute another great cross in from the young Vics full back Kade woodford picked out Jimmi Burton all alone in the box but what looked like a glorious chance to head home was put over by the young Vics striker.

Andover had the ball in the Vics net in the 30th minute but it was ruled out for offside, a minute later and a wonderful cross into the box again from the dangerous Ben Emans was cleared with no Andover player in the box to finish.Andover were now starting to run the midfield and in the 37th minute they took a deserved lead, a great run from Luke Adams along the touchline and a perfect pull back for JOSHUA BERTIE saw the striker tap home for his second of the game.1-2

HALF TIME East Cowes Vics 1-2 Abdover Town

The second half started with both sides looking to play attacking football. A wonderful save from Karl Steinborn Busse the young Vics keeper from Andovers number 12 Jotta Saikoutijan, kept the score at 1-2 , with the game really opening up now Vics had shots saved from Toby Snow and Brandon Hayward, but did get the equaliser with a great move involving Flynn Jones and Harrison yates , with the ball ending up at the feet of JIMMI BURTON who finished nicely to draw Vics level in the 71st minute. 2-2.

Three minutes later and a lovely goal from Andovers number 10 DEAN SMITH, saw Andovers lead restored.2-3.

In the 78th minute Andover could have stretched their lead when Joshua Bertie , looking for his hat-trick found himself clean through on goal, but Karl Steinborn Busse stood up strong and saved well to prevent the striker netting.

Andover had another chance to make the game safe when Dean Smith shot wide on 83 minutes . Vics were still in the game and with the referee adding 8 minutes of added time, after several injuries held up the game in the second half, they pushed for an equaliser and were rewarded when Harrison Yates put a fine ball into the box and TOBY SNOW finished from close in 3-3.

Seconds later Harrison Yates run onto a great ball from the excellent Flynn Jones , his fierce shot was brilliantly saved by the Andover keeper.

The players were putting in a huge effort in the searing heat and the nightmare happened in the 96th minute when one of Andovers players collapsed near to the half way line , players and members of both sides rushed to his aid and fortunately he was able to sit up ,after more than10 minutes laid motionless on the ground. the referee then blew his whistle after at least a 15 minute stoppage and abandoned the game, with less than 2 minutes of added time to play.

SCORE 3-3 BUT MATCH ABANDONED AWAITING HEARING FROM THE WESSEX LEAGUE

Writers thoughts…. A very entertaining, hard fought game , both sides putting in a massive effort. SO,SO RELIEVED to see the young Andover player recover from what looked at one point a very urgent situation.