Cowes Sports failed in their attempt to reach the top half of the Wessex Premier table after squandering a 2-goal half time lead against Bournemouth Poppies.
The Yachtsmen welcomed back Connor Kelly, who donned the No11 shirt.
Cowes began on the front foot with the in form Jared Tout-Walters volleying the ball on to the crossbar in the 10th minute.
The Yachtsmen took the lead shortly before the half hour mark when Kelly set up Tout-Walters to smash the ball home (1-0).
In the 35th minute, man-of-the-match Jake Wright received the ball from Browne before sending a left foot shot under Bournemouth keeper Bartram (2-0).
It took until the 41st minute for the Poppies to have their first clear scoring opportunity with Stocker blasting the ball over the crossbar from a promising position.
The Yachtsmen ended the half in control of the game, their press rarely allowing Bournemouth out of their own half.
Half time: Cowes Sports 2-0 Bournemouth Poppies
The home side came close to extending their lead in the 56th minute when Bartram first saved a diving header from Browne then the follow up from Kelly.
A 3rd goal from Cowes would have put the result beyond doubt. However, it wasn’t to be.
In the 63rd minute, Kelly was replaced by Cowes stalwart John McKie. 2 minutes later, a Josh Spink shot from outside the penalty area curled past Cowes keeper Hatt (2-1).
In the 70th minute, Spink headed home the Poppies equaliser (2-2).
The Yachtsmen threw on a couple of substitutes, with Charlie Marsek replacing Jared Tout-Walters and George Carter-Knight coming on for Scott McFarlane.
However, after conceding 2 goals in the space of 5 minutes, Cowes were unable to regain their first half fluency and were forced to settle for a point.
Full time: Cowes Sports 2-2 Bournemouth Poppies
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Hughes, Dempsey, Chase, Oatley (c), Phillips, Tout-Walters, Wright, Browne, McFarlane, Kelly Subs: McKie, Carter-Knight, Cook, Marsek, Jackman
The Yachtsmen remain 11th in the Wessex Premier table with 38 points from 30 games, a point behind opponents Bournemouth.
After the game, Cowes co-manager Mark Woodhouse said:
“I’m really frustrated because first half we were absolutely brilliant. We executed the game plan. We were fantastic on the transitions. The finishing was great. We came in at half time completely dominant.
“I’m expecting us to win games like that.”
Next up, Cowes sports face 4th-placed Fareham Town at the Zilch Waste Stadium (Westwood Park) on Tuesday).
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