Cowes Sports put in a creditable performance in their defeat to 2nd-placed Bemerton Heath Harlequins at Westwood Park on Saturday (4th March).
Bemerton began the game on the front foot with a couple of early chances that went wide or over the crossbar.
Mark Taylor then put the Yachtsmen into the lead with a rocket into the top corner of the Bemerton goal in the 14th minute (1-0).
Ed Hatt did well to prevent the away side from taking the lead on the half hour mark with a stop with his feet from Stuart Green. Greg Peel then shot past the post for the visitors.
The 1st half ended with bookings for both sides: Brown for Bemerton and Harrison Dempsey for Cowes.
Half time: Cowes Sports 1-0 Bemerton HH
Brandon Hayward was forced off the pitch early in the 2nd half for a high challenge that went unpenalized to be replaced by Harri Catania.
The Salisbury side equalised in the 50th minute through a low shot from Oscar Johnston (1-1).
The Yachtsmen came close to regaining the lead a minute later when Eli Ahmed struck a shot which went just past the right post. Jez Conway then hit the left upright with a header.
In the 54th minute, Bemerton took the lead when Greg Peel was brought down in the penalty area before striking the resulting penalty past Ed Hatt (1-2).
The penalty award struck many of the spectators present as harsh, and Mark Taylor was sinbinned for disputing the decision.
On Taylor’s return to the field of play, he had a shot just parried wide by the Bemerton keeper.
Cowes continued to press in the final minutes of the game, winning a series of corners. Harrison Catania was unlucky not to have scored in the 4th minute of injury time when he had a header cleared off the goal line by a defender.
Full time: Cowes Sports 1-2 Bemerton HH
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Dempsey, Whittle (J. Neale), Conway, West, McFarlane, C. Neale, Hayward (Catania), Ahmed (Wetherick), Taylor, Phillips
After the game, Island-born Bemerton manager Shaun Hale said:
“I’m pleased with the result. Cowes is a difficult place to come to, and I’m glad the game is out of the way.
“Cowes were the better side in the 1st half and deservedly took the lead. However, I gave my boys some choice words at half time, and we managed to grind out the result in what was an even game.”
VICS END LOSING RUN BY VANQUISHING PROMOTION CONTENDERS
A match winning performance by goalkeeper Alex Ram and a late penalty by Harrison Taylor saw Vics end a dismal run of 3 defeats by beating Petersfield United at Beatrice Avenue.
2 stops from Alex Ram in the 25th and the 38th minutes saw Vics through to the half time break on level terms.
Profligate finishing prevented the Rams from taking an early 2nd half lead. Hoare shot over for Petersfield on 48 minutes, then Davies saw his effort sail over in the 56th. Ram thwarted further goal attempts by Davies and a follow up effort by Matt Dougan.
For Vics, Sam Cant was unfortunate not to score in the 66th minute when his charge in on goal and effort were stopped by the centre half and keeper. The home side were then unlucky not to have been awarded a spot kick after Charlie Marsek had been upended in the penalty area.
Vics should have taken the lead in the 78th minute when Conor Lyon found himself unmarked 8 yards out but sent his effort over the crossbar. Callum Chase then had an on-target header saved by the Rams keeper
The Rams could have won the game in the 86th minute but for 2 crucial blocks from Toby Snow.
In what was now a frantic and end-to-end contest, in the 90th minute, young Vics striker Charlie Marsek was pulled to the ground in the penalty area, and the referee pointed straight to the spot. Harrison Taylor coolly sent the Rams keeper the wrong way from the resulting spot kick to ensure Vics took all 3 points.
Full Time: East Cowes Vics 1-0 Petersfield Town
East Cowes Vics: Ram, Snow, White, Berry, Chase, Taylor, Voller, Lyon, Cant, H. Yates, Marsek Subs: Woodford, West, Adams, Parsons, Lloyd
Vics report compiled with kind assistance of Russ Chapman.
PORT STAY IN TOP-OF-THE-TABLE PROMOTION SPOT
Wessex Division 1 leaders Newport retained their grip on the only automatic promotion place in the by overcoming North Hampshire side Whitchurch United.
George Colson put Port into the lead with a 6th minute strike from outside the penalty area (0-1).
Jordan Browne then set up Connor Kelly to score the Island side’s 2nd (0-2)
Joe Craig hit the post before having a further effort blocked by the Jam Boy’s keeper.
Whitchurch pulled a goal back before half time as Scott Barron was being treated for an injury (1-2).
Half time: Whitchurch United 1-2 Newport IoW
Ji Nash added a 3rd for the County Town Club shortly after the half time interval (1-3).
Connor Kelly then rounded the keeper before beating a defender to knock the ball into the back of the net (1-4).
Drama followed, with Port keeper Pitman harshly shown a straight red. Veteran keeper Gary Streeter stepped up to stand between the sticks.
Newport remained solid and composed for the remainder of the game, despite being down to 10 men ,to return across the Solent with all 3 points.
Full time: Whitchurch United 1-4 Newport IoW
Newport IoW: Pitman, Hughes, Hancott, Colson, Oatley, Barron, Kelly, Younie, Browne, Craig, Nash Subs: Boyd-Kerr. Streeter, Butcher, Reynolds, Lamb
Wessex League tables below:
