Match report: Ringwood Town FC took a point of fourth-placed Wessex League Division One side East Cowes Victoria after Lee Vint grabbed his 100th goal for the club
Ringwood Town kept their improbable late push for a promotion play-off place alive after taking a point off fourth-placed East Cowes Victoria on Saturday.
Gareth Bricknell got the visitors off to the perfect start, firing home after just nine minutes before Ringwood striker Lee Vint restored parity with a fierce half-volleyed effort, his 100th goal in his 200th game for the club.
“Despite creating some very good chances, we just couldn’t convert to secure the three points”, said Ringwood Town manager Fran Mathers. “We’re unbeaten in games now, but we’re drawing too many of them!
“We had a fair few key players missing and some tired legs from Tuesday. The players had to dig deep, but that winning goal just eluded both sides.
“A special mention for Lee Vint, who scored his 100th goal for the club.”
After a cagey start, Vics’ Zak Sullivan delivered a perfect long ball for Bricknell to run onto. He showed excellent pace before firing beyond Liam Smith in the Ringwood goal.
It should have been 1-1 in the 20th minute when Ringwood’s top scorer, Vint, raced through on goal. However, the experienced shot-stopper Alex Ram won the battle of wits and repelled the effort.
The resulting clearance flew the length of the pitch to Smith, whose own clearance was blocked by an onrushing Adam Voller. The ball was goalbound, but Smith reacted quickly to smother the ball and deny the visitors a second goal.
The end-to-end nature of the game saw an undeterred Ringwood go up the other end and level. After a long throw penetrated the area, a poor defensive header saw the ball fall to Vint. The number nine held his composure, waiting for the ball to bounce a second time before slamming the effort low into the corner for a deserved leveller.
Moments before the half-time whistle, Ringwood’s Smith produced a remarkable one-on-one save to deny Voller before Ringwood’s Jamie Wintle hit the keeper from four yards out.
With the benefit of a brisk wind, a wind-assisted punt downfield fell to Vint, who rounded Ram in the Vics goal only to hit his effort into the side netting.
Although Vics finished the match well, neither side will feel too hard done by with a point to show for their efforts.
Next, Ringwood Town takes on second-placed Frimley Green at home on Saturday.
Ringwood Town: L. Smith, C. Lister, L. Crumpler, J. Rabin, H. Dathan, L. Ansell, L. Pothas, J. Wintle, L. Vint, D. Whitelaw, P. Correia. Subs: M. Collings, H. Mealing, T. Hopper, W. Bradfield, R. Williams.
