ALDERSHOT & F 5, ISLE OF WIGHT 1

AFTER three successive draws in Hampshire 2, Aldershot & Farnham secured that elusive first win of the season and inflicted a first loss on Isle of Wight.

A&F’s confidence was high after last week’s gritty comeback, but the Islanders were coming off the back of a good win and played an extremely high line at Heath End.

However, Aldershot’s efforts on the training pitch were beginning to reap benefits and their work-rate ensured that the visitors never settled.

It was not long before sustained pressure yielded results and several near misses were followed by a well-worked goal from Rob Jervis.

This was quickly followed by a second as Ian Metcalfe rolled past his marker and across the top of the D before slotting low into the far corner.

Isle of Wight were limited to long-range clearances and counter-attacks and although they won several short corners, A&F’s defensive line stood firm alongside goalkeeper Andrew Wilkie.

A&F looked nervy at the start of the second half as the Islanders’ playmaker becoming increasingly involved. After a strong run through the middle, he cut back to bypass Wilkie and set up his centre-forward with an open goal.

Aldershot & Farnham refused to crumble and immediately returned to a high-tempo pressing game, preventing the Isle from building on their success.

Jonny Groves skilfully eluded the keeper to restore the two-goal cushion. The home side were then handed the advantage as the Isle’s key player drew the umpire’s displeasure to earn a yellow card and five minutes in the bin.

A&F capitalised and wrapped up the points with two further goals. A rejuvenated Metcalfe scored again to earn Man of the Match and Jackson Brown slotted home the fifth to complete an incisive dismantling of the Islanders’ defence.

A green card depleted the A&F defence, but they comfortably saw out the rest of the game.

A&F squad: Wilkie, E Rushmere, Strachan, Rickett, Straker, Edwards, P Rushmere, Coote, Jervis, Heaphy, Brown, Groves, Metcalfe, Rooke, Buchanan, Jennings.