The Yachtsmen travelled to North Hampshire last Saturday to face a Fleet Town side sitting 3 places above Cowes in the Wessex Premiership table, but 7 points clear.
Cowes Sports FC opened the scoring shortly before half time when a Tom Dye volley from around 35 yards was blocked by the home defence. The loose ball was then knocked to Ji Nash just outside the home penalty area, who calmly placed the ball wide of the home keeper into the left corner of the goal to give the Yachtsmen a 0-1 half time lead. Fleet Town then equalised in the 47th minute when a ball into the Cowes box was volleyed into the Cowes net by Kieran Nagle-Kelly.
Cowes restored their lead in the 89th minute after an inswinging corner from Jimmy Wyles fell to Michael McEnery, who dispatched the ball into the back of the net to give the Yachtsmen a 1-2 advantage going into half time.
5 minutes into injury time came a bizarre set of incidents that led to the sendings off of both Cowes goalkeeper, Ed Hatt, and Fleet Town’s Stuart Derry. The cause of the unpleasantness was a perceived handball in the Cowes area by the Fleet Town captain. The ensuing argument between the2 sides then led to a physical altercation between Hatt and Derry.
Morgan Perry was drafted in as substitute keeper but found himself unable to keep out a shot by Fleet Town substitute, Cavan Atkinson, who equalized for the home side in the 8th minute
of injury time and level the scores at 2-2.
Fleet Town 2-2 Cowes Sports
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Conor White, Sexton (Aiden White), Perrin, Ricketts, Brett (c), McFarlane, Jarvis (Mcenery), Dye (Pearson), Nash, Wykes
The draw leaves the Yachtsmen in 17th position in the Wessex League table. Cowes Sports have now picked up 4 points on their travels in Max Draper’s first 2 games in charge. On Saturday, the Yachtsmen face 19th placed Solent University at Westwood Park.
Midtable Newport travelled to Whitchurch United on Saturday, coming away with a 1-4 victory with a fine attacking performance.
Port took the lead in the 9th minute, with a goal from the returning Jared Cousins following a Connor Kelly cross. The Jam Boys then equalised in the 39th minute through Ryan Young, after which Jacob Reynolds restored Port’s lead with a header in the 43rd, to give the Island side a 1-2 advantage at half time.
Shortly after half time, Liam Triggs gave Port a 1-3 advantage, after picking the ball up in midfield and going on a mazy run through the Whitchurch defence, before slotting the ball home. Seconds after the restart, leading scorer, Connor Kelly, made the score 1-4 to the visitors; with aspectacular goal from over 25 yards out.
Whitchurch Utd 1-4 Newport
Newport: Streeter, Hughes, Lamb, Pearce, McDonough, Reynolds (J Wright), Kelly, Triggs, Cousins, Browne, Taylor.
Victory leaves Port in 10th position in Wessex League One, with 22 points from 15 games. On Saturday, 7th December, Newport travel to Salisbury to face 7th placed Bemerton Heath Harlequins.
