It was a black Saturday for the Isle of Wight’s Wessex League clubs as Cowes and Newport suffered defeats while a cancelled ferry left East Cowes Vics stranded.
COWES DEFENCE TORN APART BY RAMPANT ROBINS
Cowes Sports’ miserable week went from bad to worse on Saturday (17th October) as the Yachtsmen crashed to a humiliating 7-2 defeat at Downton, despite a brace from talisman John McKie.
Having already suffered the disappointment of a midweek Wessex League Cup exit at the hands of local rivals East Cowes Vics in the ‘El Clasicowes’ derby, Cowes were torn apart by the rampant Robins in Wiltshire.
Downton drew first blood in the 18th minute when Ben Moss produced some excellent work down the left flank before whipping a cross towards the near post, where Max Wilcock applied the finishing touch to steer the ball into the bottom corner (1-0).
The hosts doubled their advantage in the 36th minute. Owen Fee delivered a dangerous free kick into the penalty area, captain Cam Beard knocked the ball down and Ronan Moore was perfectly placed to volley home (2-0).
Cowes were handed a lifeline in the 2nd minute of first-half stoppage time when Harrison Dempsey was brought down by the Downton goalkeeper inside the penalty area. McKie stepped up to convert the resulting spot kick, giving the Yachtsmen renewed hope of mounting a comeback (2-1).
However, those hopes were extinguished before the interval as Downton struck twice in quick succession.
In the 7th minute of added time, Fee unleashed a thunderous effort from distance that flew into the far bottom corner (3-1). Barely a minute later, Wilcock’s header struck the post before the ball was fumbled into the net, completing his brace and leaving Cowes facing a mountain to climb (4-1).
Half Time: Downton 4-1 Cowes Sports
Any hopes of a second-half revival were dashed just 3 minutes after the restart when Moore grabbed his 2nd goal of the afternoon to extend Downton’s advantage (5-1).
McKie struck again in the 52nd minute to complete his brace and reduce the arrears (5-2), but the Yachtsmen were unable to make further inroads into the home side’s commanding lead.
Downton were not finished. With 10 minutes remaining, substitute Matthews struck the Robins’ 6th goal (6-2), before fellow replacement Clancy completed the rout just 2 minutes later following some neat approach play (7-2).
Full Time: Downton 7-2 Cowes Sports
Cowes Sports: Hatt; Flood, Dempsey, Chase (c), T. Mumford, J. Mumford, McFarlane, Carter-Knight, Marsek, Scrimshaw, McKie. Subs: Glynn, West, Ballinger, Fever-Norton, Brihmani.
After the game, Cowes manager Mark Woodhouse said:
“We lost 7-2, and I don’t want to sugarcoat it at all. Sometimes in this league we get lessons, and today we got one. They were clinical today.
“It’s one game, and we’ll dust ourselves off and go again next week.
“It’s still exciting times. We’re in the middle of the table, and we’re still in that Vase, and that’s an amazing opportunity for us. So, there’s lots to be positive about – just not today.”
Defeat leaves Cowes 15th in the Wessex Premier Division with 15 points from 14 games.
The Yachtsmen will look to bounce back on Tuesday (20th October) when they host Ringwood Town in the Russell Cotes Cup at the Diverse Marine Stadium. Kick-off is at 19:45.
PORT PAY THE PENALTY AT ALDERMASTON
Newport Isle of Wight suffered only their 2nd league defeat of the season as a 2nd-half penalty saw AFC Aldermaston come from behind to beat Port 2-1 in Berkshire.
Connor Kelly had given the Islanders a first-half lead, but Aldermaston fought back to claim all 3 points despite Kelly coming within inches of snatching a late equaliser.
The Islanders made the breakthrough in the 24th minute when Ji Nash combined with Kelly, who latched onto a through ball and produced a composed first-time finish into the bottom corner to put the visitors ahead (0-1).
However, Aldermaston restored parity in the 38th minute when Jayden laid the ball off to Jehmiel McNeil, who fired past Newport goalkeeper Leon Pitman (1-1).
The hosts almost completed the turnaround before the interval when an effort struck the underside of the crossbar in the 43rd minute, but the ball bounced clear to leave the sides level at the break.
Half Time: AFC Aldermaston 1-1 Newport Isle of Wight
The decisive breakthrough came in the 69th minute when Aldermaston’s Pele Hagger was caught by a high foot inside the Newport penalty area. The referee pointed to the spot and Hagger stepped up to convert, putting the home side ahead for the first time (2-1).
Port came agonisingly close to an equaliser in the 76th minute when Kelly, already on the scoresheet, struck a free kick that grazed the post.
However, Newport were unable to find a way back into the contest and were left to rue the loss of their first-half advantage.
Full Time: AFC Aldermaston 2-1 Newport Isle of Wight
Newport Isle of Wight: Pitman; Grace, Butcher, Hancott, Egerton-Read, Conway, Nash, Walsh, Browne (c), Young, Kelly. Subs: Myram, Mazambarai, Barsdell, Holbrook.
Despite suffering only their 2nd league defeat of the campaign, Newport remain 8th in Wessex Division One with 19 points from 11 games, just 5 points outside the play-off places and with games in hand over the sides above them.
Port will look to return to winning ways on Tuesday (20th October) when they welcome Totton & Eling to WightFibre Park for a 19:45 kick-off.
CANCELLED FERRY LEAVES EAST COWES VICS STRANDED
East Cowes Victoria Athletic’s scheduled Wessex Premier Division encounter away to Millbrook was postponed after a cancelled ferry prevented the Islanders from travelling to the mainland.
Vics apologised to supporters intending to make the journey and thanked Millbrook and the Wessex League for their understanding.
