Isle of Wight Men’s 1st XI vs Havant 3s

Smallbrook Stadium – Sunny conditions

Despite a heavy defeat the previous week, the Isle of Wight Men’s First Team came into today’s crucial top-of-the-table clash against Havant 3s still sitting proudly at the summit. Under bright skies at Smallbrook Stadium, the home side began with confidence and purpose, attacking down both flanks through patient, controlled build-up play.

The Islanders were almost rewarded immediately: centre-forward Antonio was unlucky not to open the scoring in just the second minute. Wave after wave of early pressure followed, with the Isle of Wight breaking through Havant’s lines repeatedly but unable to find the final decisive pass.

In what quickly developed into a tight, hard-fought contest, it was Havant who struck first. After a turnover in midfield, the visitors broke rapidly down the right, and a hard ball fired into the D took a deflection in a challenge, wrong-footing goalkeeper Steph and giving Havant a 1–0 lead.

The intensity continued to build as both sides thundered into challenges with full commitment. Special credit must go to Kit and Seb, who were fearless in the centre of the pitch and instrumental in disrupting Havant’s rhythm. However, it was the return of Aaron Hoare whose calm, composed play dictated the tempo—who truly shifted momentum. Aerial balls launched left and right from Aaron stretched Havant’s structure, and one such move led to the Islanders’ breakthrough: Antonio controlled neatly before ending his goal drought with a clean, low finish into the bottom-right corner. 

Half-time: 1–1

After impassioned team talks, both sides emerged for the second half with renewed fury. Every ball was contested as though it would decide the match, the tempo rising with each minute. Island players Ethan, Sam and Lewis continually threw themselves into challenges leaving a solid back line of Pat Aaron H and Aaron W to mop up and take theirs heat out of the moment.

The decisive moment arrived midway through the half. Once again, centre-forward Antonio drove with power into the D along the baseline before squaring across goal, where the incoming attackers crashed the ball home for a 2–1 lead.

Sensing Havant beginning to waver, the Isle of Wight pressed harder. A third goal soon followed from a short corner after another punishing run down the right, the ball squeezed over the line amid heavy pressure.
Entering the final ten minutes, Havant pushed higher and higher, launching long aerials over the tiring Island defence. Despite this, the back line held strong and goalkeeper Steph produced several important interventions. With minutes remaining, a Havant attack down the right forced Steph into parrying a soft shot into the path of an onrushing attacker, who struck first time past the diving Sam and the recovering defence to make it 3–2.

Havant grew frantic in the dying moments, and the match became increasingly stretched. But the Isle of Wight’s discipline, structure and composure saw them through the late storm, securing a 3–2 victory and ensuring they remain firmly at the top of the table.

A great game, and a thrilling spectacle for the crowd. Well done lads.