Cowes Sports’ run of 3 successive victories came to a crashing halt at Westwood Park yesterday evening (Tuesday) after a comprehensive defeat to a clinical Portchester side.
The Yachtsmen began brightly with Connor Kelly causing chaos down the left wing, but caused little threat for the remainder of the 1st half.
Portchester had the bulk of the possession but created few chances until the 28th minute when Archie Wilcox sent a looping header over Ed Hatt to take the lead (0-1).
Half time: Cowes Sports 0-1 AFC Portchester
The Yachtsmen returned from the half time break determined to claw back the single goal defecit.
In the 49th minute, George Carter-Knight rattled the Portchester crossbar with a powerful strike from the edge of the penalty area.
In the 54th minute, it was game on when captain Fin Phillips set up Connor Kelly to send a powerful shot past Portchester keeper Mowthorpe (1-1).
The away side appeared rattled but soon recovered their composure. On the hour mark, Ed Hatt pulled off a save of the season to deny James Cowan’s shot from range.
In the 66th minute, Portchester regained the lead through a Harrison Brook header (1-2).
Max Draper then sent his substitutes on with Scott McFarlane, Jez Conway and that man John McKie replacing George Carter-Knight, Fin Phillips and George Colson.
In the 77th minute, McFarlane came close to equalising with a header that flashed across the face of the goal.
But it wasn’t to be. Harrison Brook finished off the home side by completing his hat trick with goals in the 79th (1-3) and 84th minutes (1-4).
Full time: Cowes Sports 1-4 AFC Portchester
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Mumford, Hancott (White), Barron, Oatley, Triggs, Cook, Colson (Conway), Phillips (McFarlane), Carter-Knight (McKie), Kelly Sub (unused): Hayward
The Yachtsmen’s defeat leaves them 8th in the Wessex Premier Division with 16 points from 10 games.
On Saturday (14th October), Cowes face Petersfield Town at Westwood Park. The following Saturday (21st October) the Yachtsmen have a home tie against Whitchurch United in the 2nd round of the FA Vase.
Fleetlands 2-0 Newport (IoW)
In Wessex Division 1, the Port were beaten by Steve Claridge’s Coptermen at Powder Monkey Park.
Newport trailed by a single goal at halftime through a lob by Robbie Humphreys (1-0).
The home side secured victory with a diving header in the 2nd minute of injury time from Harry Shaw (2-0) to move up to the play off places.
Newport (IoW): Pitman, Walsh, Oatley, Watterson, Pearce, Butcher, McDonough (c), Pearce, Butcher, Taylor, Browne, Craig, Younie Subs: Malin, Page, West, Myram, Streeter
The Port’s defeat leaves them 16th in the Division 1 table with 10 points from 10 games.
This Saturday, Newport travel to 3rd-placed Alresford Town in North Hampshire.
