Scott McFarlane saved a point for Cowes with a last-minute equalizer at Westwood Park on Saturday (29th October).
The game began badly for the Yachtsmen as Bournemouth’s Bruno Manuel was left unmarked in the penalty area to score on the quarter hour mark (0-1).
Fin Phillips then had an opportunity to equalize for the Island side but had his attempt blocked by the Bournemouth keeper.
The course of the game changed in the 27th minute when John McKie was fouled by Bournemouth’s Ieuan Turner on the edge of their penalty area. As the last Bournemouth defender, Turner was shown a straight red.
Despite now playing against 10 men, the Yachtsmen were unable to turn numerical advantage into goals. In the 34th minute, Ed Hatt was forced to make a good save with his feet to prevent the home side from falling 2 goals behind. Captain John McKie then had 2 half chances shortly before the half time break but was unable to convert either.
Half time: Cowes Sports 0-1 Bournemouth
Cowes came out of the blocks in the 2nd half determined to claw back the goal deficit. In the 46th minute, Fin Phillips had a 5-yard effort saved by the Bournemouth keeper. 2 minutes later John McKie also had an effort stopped by Robertson in the Poppies’ goal.
The best chance for Cowes fell to Aedan Coode after being put through by Harri Catania in the 58th minute, but he shot past the right post with only the keeper to beat.
There then followed a series of substitutions with George Holmes replacing Aedan Coode, Caleb Neale coming on for Harrison Dempsey, and Josh Neale taking the place of Brandon Hayward.
The course of the game changed again in the 83rd minute when Cowes captain McKie was sent off for violent conduct.
However, the Yachtsmen continued to lay siege to the Poppies goal. In the 90th minute, Scott McFarlane danced around a Poppies defender before sending a rocket of a ball into the top right corner of Robertson’s goal (1-1).
The home side had an opportunity to take all 3 points in injury time when a chance fell to Josh Neale, but he shot wide.
Full time: Cowes Sports 1-1 Bournemouth
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Dempsey (C Neale), McFarlane, White, West, Conway, Catania, Hayward (J Neale), McKie (c), Phillips, Coode (Holmes) Subs not used: Coshell, Wykes
The draw leaves the Yachtsmen 16th in the Wessex Premier with 11 points from 11 games.
Before the game, a presentation was made to Cowes players Ed Hatt and Jimmy Wykes, both of whom having made 400 appearances for the Yachtsmen.
Newport IoW 2-0 Ringwood Town
The Port recorded their 7th successive league victory in Wessex Division 1. The County Town team took the lead in the 1st half through flying winger Connor Kelly, who nutmegged the Ringwood keeper (1-0). However, despite continuing to press throughout the remainder of the half, they were unable to extend their lead further.
The Island side went off the boil in the 2nd half, with keeper Leon Pitman to thank for denying Ringwood the chance to equalize. Connor Kelly made sure all 3 points stayed with the home side late in the game, when he rounded the Ringwood keeper before slotting the ball home (2-0).
Newport IoW: Pitman, Colson, Hancott, Lamb, S. Barron, Oatley (c), Kelly, Boyd-Kerr, Younie, Craig, Butcher Subs: McDonough, J. Barron, Smith, McCormack (gk)
The Port’s win leaves them 5th in Division 1 with 24 points from 9 games. The Island side are 6 points behind leaders New Milton Town but have 6 games in hand.
Downton 4-2 East Cowes Vics
Vics lost to 2nd-placed Downton in Wiltshire. The scorers for East Cowes Vics were Charlie Marsek and Toby Snow.
Vics: Ram, Walsh, Woodford, Berry, West, Newbold, Chapman, Lyon, Haylor, Snow, Marsek Subs: Cant, Evans, Lacey
Defeat leaves Vics 3rd-from-bottom in Division 1 with 9 points from 12 games.
