Cowes Sports FC fielded a depleted side for the visit of high-flying Horndean on Saturday due to the marriage of first team regular, Tom Dye, and the attendance of a number of other players at the wedding.
This led to the absence of not only midfielder, Dye, but also captain Gareth Bricknell, star striker Michael McEnery and Ashley Brett.
The game began disastrously for the Yachtsmen, with the Deans’ Sam Kessack tapping the ball past Cowes keeper Ed Hatt after just 3 minutes. The visitors then laid siege to the home side’s goal for the rest of the half, but were unable to add to their goal tally until the 40th minute, when Miles Everett dispatched a deflected shot round Hatt. The third came during first half injury time, when the exotically named Fuzz Kanjanda finished off an exquisite one-two from the away side with a shot to Hatt’s left.
Half time: Cowes Sports 0-3 Horndean
The Yachtsmen had an opportunity to get back into the game after the Deans were temporarily reduced to 10 men after one of their number was sin binneed for dissent. However, it was Horndean who added to their lead in the 55th minute after a long shot from Kessack. Cowes pulled a goal back in the 69th minute when Joe White was fouled in the box and Euan Cranwell converted the penalty. It was then the Deans’ turn to add to their tally from the penalty spot with Sam Kessack completing his hat trick with an 80th minute penalty, and substitute, Connor Duffin, scoring a sixth with an 87th minute spot kick.
Full time: Cowes Sports 1-6 Horndean
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Connor White, Aiden White, Joe White, Cranwell, Chase, Perrin, McFarlane, Conway, Wykes, Phillips Subs: Sexton, Jarvis, Peason, McCormack
After the match, the Yachtsmen’s manager Steve Rutter, said that his team had faced a very strong side with quality and experience that had come second in the league the previous season, in what was a formidable task for a team missing players.
Steve said:
“We gave them far too much respect in the first half and they punished us for it. After some strong words in the dressing room at half time, we took the game to them in the second half. However, a couple of mistakes gifted them goals, and their clinical forwards punished us.”
Cowes are now 17th in the Wessex Premier, having managed just 2 wins in 10 games in the season so far.
In Wessex League One, East Cowes Vics recorded their first league victory of the season under temporary manager John Simpkins, winning 3-1 at Alton. The goals coming via a brace from captain Joe Butcher and one from Jordan Chapman. However, despite their unexpected victory, Vics still lie in a lowly 19th position in the table.
On Tuesday night, Vics face a strong Hythe & Dibden side in Wessex League One, kick-off 20:00. Newport travel to Totton and Eling.
Island Echo will keep Island football fans informed of the progress of both our Wessex League teams in action on Tuesday.
