Cowes captain John McKie scored a 1st half hat trick in half-an-hour as the Yachtsmen put 5 goals past Laverstock & Ford this afternoon (Saturday).
The Yachtsmen have now taken 13 points out of a possible 15 in their last 5 games.
McKie opened the scoring for Cowes in the 4th minute by slotting the ball into the left corner of the goal after being put through by Jordan Cook (0-1).
3 minutes later, Cap’n John bagged his brace by smashing in a Scott McFarlane cross from close to the penalty spot (0-2).
Fin Phillips was unlucky not to have extended the away side’s lead in the 20th minute when he saw his free kick cleared off the line by a defender.
McKie then bagged his hat trick by knocking a Mumford cross into the left corner to leave the Yachtsmen with a 3-goal advantage at half time (0-3).
Half time: Laverstock & Ford 0-3 Cowes Sports
The goals continued to flow in the 2nd half, with the Bulldogs fighting back but not fiercely enough to stop the Yachtsmen from taking home all 3 points.
Laverstock were controversially awarded a penalty close to the hour mark, converted by captain Adam Bourner (1-3).
Ryan Oatley took the pressure off Cowes 11 minutes from full time by heading in a Jake Wright corner at the back post (1-4).
The Yachtsmen were then awarded an 88th minute penalty after Mumford had been taken out in the penalty area, which was coolly converted by Fin Phillps (1-5).
The referee awarded his 2nd controversial penalty to the Bulldogs a minute later after Cowes keeper Hatt had clashed with a forward, which was again converted by Bourner (2-5).
Full time: Laverstock & Ford 2-5 Cowes Sports
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Hughes, Mumford, Chase, Oatley, Phillips, Cook, Wright, McFarlane, McKie (c), Marsek Subs: Cranwell, Jackman, Bridi, Tout-Walters, Carter-Knight
3 points for the Yachtsmen leaves Cowes Sports 13th in the Wessex Premier with 15 points from 13 games.
After the game, Cowes Sports joint manager Ian Potts said:
“We knew today would be a tough game, like all games are in this league. The players were excellent out of possession. They worked extremely hard, and the first half bore fruit.
“In the 2nd half, we had to weather a storm of pressure which showed great maturity. The lads from the bench freshened things up, and the whole squad of 16 can be proud of a great away win.
“We will keep our feet on the ground and keep building. There are some extremely tough games to come, and we are excited for the challenge ahead.”
PORT PICK UP POINT IN NEW FOREST
Newport have extended their unbeaten run in the league to 6 games by holding Ringwood Town to a draw.
The 1st half was dominated by both defences, with Port keeper Pitman making an excellent save in the 18th minute, following which the home keeper made a brilliant double save to keep the scores level in the 38th.
Man-of-the-match Pitman then went on to stop a penalty 2 minutes from half time.
Half time: Ringwood Town 0-0 Newport IW
Player-manager Joe Butcher put Port into the lead 4 minutes into the 2nd half by picking the ball up on the byline before trickling a shot into the net under the Ringwood keeper (0-1).
However. it took the home side less than a minute to equalise through a deflected shot from Josh Ridland (1-1).
Newport had opportunities to take all 3 points, with Joe Butcher sending an effort just wide in the 56th minute and Joe Craig hitting the woodwork in injury time, but the match finished honours even – Port’s 3rd successive draw.
Full time: Ringwood Town 1-1 Newport IW
Newport IW: Pitman, Grace, Walsh, West, Watterson (c), Thompsett, Nash, Young, Craqig, Younie, Butcher Subs: Myram, Goldberg, Weeks, Oatley
Port’s point leaves them 8th in Wessex Division 1 with 20 points from 12 games.
VICS VANQUISHED AT BEATRICE AVENUE
East Cowes Victoria’s impressive 11-game unbeaten run ended in defeat by Lymington Town.
Lymington opened the scoring in the 8th minute when an overhit corner fell for Alex Morris, whose crisp cross into the box was met by Ben Morris, who finished from 5 yards (0-1)
Vics had plentiful opportunities to find a 1st half equaliser. In the 16th minute, Charlie Hart found himself alone 18 yards out, but his lob over the onrushing keeper went wide of the target. A minute later, Jacob Reynold’s effort looked goal bound but was deflected over. Charlie Hart was unlucky on 22 minutes when his shot hit the side netting.
In the 31st minute, Scott Jones had a header saved by Lymington’s 16-year-old keeper Charlie Fry. Jones had a further header saved by Fry on 39 minutes.
Half time: East Cowes Victoria 0-1 Lymington Town
Lymington started the 2nd half on the front foot with Conner Lopez sending a shot flying in off the far post (0-2)
Vics man-of-the-match Charlie Hart then pulled a goal back in the 64th minute by converting a Harrison Yates corner (1-2).
Lymington regained their 2-goal advantage on 73 minutes, with Alex Morris hammering the ball home (1-3)
Scott Jones pulled a goal back for Vics 2 minutes from full time after great work from Toby Snow (2-3).
However, Alex Morris delivered the killer blow for the mainland side by shooting over the outstretched hands of Ram from 22 yards (2-4).
Full time: East Cowes Victoria 2-4 Lymington Town
East Cowes Victoria: Ram, Snow, Yates, Newbold (c), Wheeler, Chapman, Reynolds, Boyd-Kerr, Jones, Hart, C. Neale Subs: Kirby, Perrin, Barnes, Anstey, Mooney
Vics’ defeat sees them drop from 1st to 3rd in the Wessex Division 1 table, a point behind leaders New Milton Town but with a game in head.
After the game manager Alex Smith said:
“Being beaten by a younger side that were hungrier than us at home is a concern.
“We were more than capable of winning the game. We have a lot of people come to support us.
“We were not good enough. It has to be better.”
East Cowes Vics v Lymington Town gallery:
