A rain soaked and thread bare 2nd team rocked up to Alton to watch the end of the Mens 1st team match hoping that not only would the rain stop, but that they would also fare better than their club compatriots.

However, from the very start of the match the Island imposed themselves onto Alton, dominating throughout the match. Despite this domination Alton did manage to hold the team back and it was sometime before the island finally managed to break the deadlock with Wightlink Man of the Match Thomas Young continuing his scoring streak to make it 1-0. Once they had that first goal there was no looking back for the Island. Lewis Wells in goal was merely a spectator in the first half with Steve McKnight, Will Bevan being joined in defence by striker Johnny Kirby and veteran Island Word Cup star John Pearson and all four nullifying what little threat Alton posed. The midfield of skipper Mike Dodds, Ethan Edmunds-Lamb, Charlie Randerson and debutant Amit Ubhi were in complete control with Charlie Randerson having his best game of the season so far. Up front Aaron Edmunds-Lamb was showing the talent that he has, holding the ball well for support from midfield or onto his fellow striker Thomas Young, who had finally found his scoring boots. By half time the score was 3-0 with Thomas Young scoring twice more, one from a well worked short corner routine and another an absolute belter as he picked up the ball, turned and struck a half volley from the edge of the right hand side of the D into the top left corner.

The start of the second half could not have gone any better. From the Alton push back the Island turned over the ball, swiftly transferred itl around their D before providing Thomas Young with the chance to make it 4-0, which he duly took. Johnny Kirby then decided to get in on the act as he stormed forward from center back, picked up the ball inside their 25 drove in on the right hand side of the D and hit the ball hard and low into the left corner of the goal past a static keeper who was given no time to react. Alton did then start to put the pressure on as the island legs began to tire. Lewis Wells was forced into a couple of saves that were arguably either going wide or over the top but he was finally beaten when the Island failed to clear their lines and a low shot into the bottom left corner saw Alton pull one back. Any hope of a home comeback were short lived as the island continued to create plenty more chances to score, especially from short corners, and although they came close from those the final goal was to come from a penalty stroke after a foot on the line from an Alton defender. Thomas Young stepped up and put it away to make it 5 goals in the game for him and 6-1 the final result. An absolutely fantastic team performance with a few regulars not available and no substitutes.

Massive thanks to Scott Bashford for umpiring, “Tiger” Tony Edmunds-Lamb for his few minutes cameo appearance on the pitch before our final player arrived and to Lewis Heaven-Gandy for the support on the sideline.