A 53rd minute goal from captain John McKie was sufficient for Cowes Sports to take all 3 points against United Services Portsmouth this afternoon (Saturday 9th November).
The 1st half saw action at both ends of the pitch, with both defences foiling the opposing sides’ strikers.
John McKie had the first scoring opportunity in the 3rd minute after being picked out by Ryan Oatley but shot just wide.
In the 19th minute, Jake Wright sent a volley rocketing goalbound, which ended up in the USP’s keeper’s hands.
The next chance fell for centre forward Scott McFarlane, who also directed the ball at keeper Craig.
The 1st half finished with a flurry of chances for the Yachtsmen, with a further strike ending in the hands of Craig, a goal ruled out for offside, and a shot from a tight angle missing the upright.
Half time: Cowes Sports 0-0 United Services Portsmouth
The Yachtsmen came out firing on all cylinders in the 2nd half with a shot saved by the keeper’s feet in the 48th minute.
3 minutes later, Craig denied Marsek a scoring opportunity by smothering the ball.
The breakthrough finally came when a Fin Phillips corner was headed into the goal at the back post by John McKie (1-0).
Cowes continued to pile on the pressure with McKie shooting just wide in the 65th minute and Callum Chase heading over the crossbar in the 73rd.
The game became scrappy in the final 15 minutes, with George Carter-Knight and a USP player both booked for a tussling over a ball.
However, the Yachtsmen held on for a win that sees them rise to 12th place in the Wessex Premiership table.
Full time: Cowes Sports 1-0 United Services Portsmouth
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Hughes, Mumford, Chase, Oatley, Phillips, Cook, Wright, McFarlane, McKie, Marsek Subs: Tout-Walters, Jackman, Conway, Salter, G. Bridi Man-of-the-match: Ryan Hughes
On Tuesday 12th November, Cowes Sports take on AFC Stoneham at the Zilch Waste Stadium in the 3rd round of the Hampshire Senior Cup. Kick off is at 20:00,
PORT PUT 4 PAST JAM BOYS ON THE ROAD
Newport came from behind to beat Whitchurch United convincingly.
The Jam Boys took the lead in the 3rd minute when Fin Hall finished a Sam Freeman cross (1-0)
Port than put their opponents under the cosh, with Joe Craig sending an effort wide then having a shot blocked, and Joe Butcher also having a goal attempt thwarted by the keeper.
Craig had a goal disallowed before forcing the Whitchurch stopper to make a fingertip save, Henry West saw a header go just wide, and Ji Nash saw an effort stopped by the opposing keeper.
The breakthrough for Port finally came in the 34th minute, with Ji Nash smashing home after some good work from Joe Craig (1-1).
Half time: Whitchurch United 1-1 Newport IW
Port took the lead a minute into the 2nd half when Michael Thompsett converted a Josh Younie corner (1-2).
Joe Craig then finished off a Joe Butcher free kick to give the Island side a 2-goal advantage (1-3).
Port continued to press, with Butcher and substitute Jamie Wright both striking the woodwork.
Butcher then added a 4th for the Island side in the 74th minute, by taking advantage of a defensive mix up between a Jam Boys’ defender and keeper (1-4).
Whitchurch pulled a goal back from the penalty spot 10 minutes from full time (2-4), but Port returned home across the Solent with all 3 points.
Full time: Whitchurch United 2-4 Newport IW
Newport IW: Pitman, Grace, Oatley, West, Watterson, Thompsett, Nash, Younie, Young, Craig, Butcher Subs: Walsh, Weeks, Wright, Holbrook, Linington Man-of-the-match: Joe Craig
Newport’s win leaves the County Town club 6th in Wessex Division 1 with 26 points from 14 games and are now only 3 points behind 4th-placed East Cowes Vics.
ACORNS KNOCK VICS OUT OF FA VASE
East Cowes Vics lost by a single goal to Hellenic Premier Hartpury University in Gloucestershire in the FA Vase 2nd round.
The Victorians began brightly and could have taken the lead in the 3rd minute when a Harrison Yates free kick was met by an unmarked Liam Newbold 4 yards from goal, but his header was just off target.
Hartpury broke immediately, with Louis Manning’s shot rebounding off the inside of the post.
The home side’s Luke Salter then sent a 26th minute strike inches over the crossbar.
On 28 minutes, Scott Jones had a goal attempt sail over the bar, as did a further effort from Raff Boyd- Kerr.
The 1st half finished with Vics keeper Alex Ram thwarting Salter.
Half time: Hartpury University 0-0 East Cowes Victoria
The Acorns’ Luke Salter hit the woodwork for the 2nd time in the game in the 50th minute.
5 minutes later, Hartpury took the lead when a free kick into a dangerous area was met by a Luke Salter flick (1-0).
The home side took control, with efforts from Kobe, Jenkins and Baxter saved by Ram. Substitute Tomos Shayamapant found himself clean through in the 77th minute, but Ram stood tall and saved.
Scott Jones had a header saved by Hartpury keeper Sarkodie in the 79th minute. Hartpury then hit the woodwork for a 3rd time through Prifti.
Vics had opportunities to equalise towards the end of the game, with Toby Snow nearly catching out Sarkodie, but the keeper pushed the ball onto the crossbar.
Scott Jones had the final scoring opportunity for Vics when he headed a Yates corner over the crossbar.
Full time: Hartpury University 1-0 East Cowes Victoria
East Cowes Victoria: Ram, Snow, Yates, Newbold, Wheeler, Chapman, Triggs, Boyd-Kerr, Jones, Reynolds, Hart Subs: Kirby, Coode, C. Neale, Mumford, Snaith
