Match Report by Nick Mattocks
Photos courtesy of Island Echo

The penultimate game of the season saw High Park arrive at Beatrice Avenue knowing a win for them would mean promotion to Division One and a win for the Vics would take it all to the last game of the season and still a possibility that they could secure promotion if results went their way.

The Vics started brightly and within two minutes of kick off a James Turner pass found Cruz Wragg whose shot was saved by Mike Hammond in the High Park goal.

Then, just two minutes later Hammond brought down Charlie Southcott in the area and referee Keyson Colebrook had no hesitation in pointing to the spot.
Up stepped the normally reliable Aidan Sheerin to take the penalty only to his power shot crash against the crossbar and out to safety.

High Park were easing themselves into the game and had numerous corners, long throw ins and free kicks to test the Vics defence but they were all dealt with superbly by the backline and Fraser Law in the Vics goal.

In the 18th min a Kade Woodford corner fell to Southcott who saw his shot well saved by Hammond and on 35mins a Brandon Tuckey run and pull back saw Turner's shot deflected over the bar.

On the stroke of half time High Park's John Robjant had a shot saved by Law and both teams went in with honours even.

HT 0-0

The second half started off with both the Vics' Ryan Lacey and High Park's Jenson Norman going into the ref's notebook after a mild scuffle and Robjant was booked for a tackle on Sam Kirby.

On 53mins Southcott managed to find some room to turn and shoot but to no avail, then, 4mins later Harrison Berry slid a pass to Tuckey who managed to evade the tackle of a High Park defender to cut into the area and square the ball to Turner who side footed home to put the Vics ahead.

High Park knew they had to attack and created a chance in the 69th min which Law palmed away.

And, in the 60th min High Park's Scott Saunders found himself through on goal and just when he tried to pull the trigger out of nowhere came Jake McNaney to make the best tackle of the game to deny the threat.

As the game petered out to the end High Park's Nathan Holton suffered a nasty injury to his ankle after a 50/50 challenge with Tuckey and had to be helped off the pitch and we hope this is not serious.

The Vics saw the game out and now know that if High Park lose or draw to Niton in their last game, a win or draw at home to title contenders Ventnor would be enough to secure promotion in just their second season, a tremendous feat in itself.

FT 1-0