A late Emerson Tattersall winner proved decisive as Cowes Sports edged a pulsating local derby at Beatrice Avenue this afternoon (Friday).
East Cowes Victoria and Cowes Sports served up a full-blooded Wessex Premier Isle of Wight derby in front of 639 spectators, packed with tempo, crunching challenges and chances at both ends.
The Yachtsmen made the sharper start. Ryan Hughes tested Vics goalkeeper George Bridi on 8 minutes, while Fin Phillips twice threatened soon after, first seeing an effort deflected wide before dragging another attempt off target under pressure. Phillips, who would go on to be named Cowes’ man of the match, was a constant threat in the opening stages. Vics responded through Toby Snow, whose driving run on 12 minutes ended with a cross-shot deflected behind.
A big moment arrived on 19 minutes when Vics striker Connor Kelly looked in on goal, only for Cowes defender Harrison Dempsey to produce an outstanding last-ditch tackle. Seconds later, Vics’ Will Bridi saw an effort cleared, before Cowes keeper Ed Hatt denied Josh Neale on 21 minutes.
The breakthrough came on 22 minutes when Phillips found space and finished beyond Bridi to give the visitors the lead (0-1).
Vics responded well and were level on 30 minutes, Connor Kelly calmly slotting home after good build-up play (1-1), in a move that mirrored the Cowes opener.
Kelly nearly gave Vics the lead just before the break, but his 45th-minute free kick was well saved by Hatt.
Half Time: East Cowes Victoria 1-1 Cowes Sports
Vics started the second half on the front foot, with Kelly, Josh Neale and Elliot Wheeler all going close for the home side. On the hour mark, Liam Triggs met a Jake Wright free kick unmarked 8 yards out but headed wide in what proved a costly miss.
The defining moment of the match came on 67 minutes. Vics substitute Jacob Reynolds forced Hatt into a full-stretch save, and with the rebound falling kindly for Wright, a goal looked certain. However, Cowes defender Harrison Dempsey produced a remarkable block to keep the scores level.
That intervention sparked the visitors into life.
Cowes began to take control, with Colson increasingly influential in midfield. Callum Chase saw a header saved on 73 minutes, while Colson himself was denied on 78. At the other end, Vics forward Josh Neale forced another strong save from Hatt on 80 minutes as the game continued to swing from end to end.
With the derby seemingly heading for a draw, Cowes struck 3 minutes from full time. Colson chased down a lost cause and delivered into Emerson Tattersall, whose looping effort dropped over Bridi and into the top corner (1-2), sparking jubilant scenes among the travelling support.
Vics pushed forward in the closing moments, with chances falling to Neale and Snow, but the equaliser would not come.
Full Time: East Cowes Victoria 1-2 Cowes Sports
East Cowes Victoria: Bridi, Snow, Newbold (c), Triggs, Yates, Chapman, Wright, Boyd-Kerr, Wheeler, J Neale, Kelly Subs: Coode, C Neale, Hart, Reynolds, Barnes Man-of-the-Match: Jordan Chapman
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Hughes, Dempsey, Chase, Oatley, Colson, Cook, Phillips, Bridi, Marsek, Tattersall Subs: Flood, Cruttenden, St John-Biggs, Carter-Knight, Lovett-Fenner Man-of-the-Match: Finn Phillips
After the game, Cowes manager Mark Woodhouse said:
“I’m absolutely buzzing. It makes all the late nights really worthwhile.
“With Emerson, it shows that hard work pays off. The lad’s been battered by the centre halves. But you know that when he gets the chance, he’ll take it.
“We are mathematically safe now, so we can stop worrying about the league table. We can start planning for next season, and we’ve got that huge cup semi final coming up.”
For East Cowes Vics, Alex Smith commented:
“In the 2nd half, we probably should have scored at least 2 promising chances. One moment of giving the ball away, and they’ve jumped on it and finished it. One moment like that is enough to turn it, and it did.”
The result leaves Vics 13th and Cowes 14th in the Wessex Premier, with both sides now level on 37 points with 5 games remaining.
Both sides are in action again on Tuesday evening (7th April), with Vics taking on Downton at Beatrice Avenue (20:00 kick off) and Cowes travelling to Downton in Wiltshire (19:45 kick off).
