Cowes Sports’ League Cup dream ended at the semi-final stage last night (Tuesday) while Newport fought back to draw at Ringwood.
Cowes Sports’ Wessex League Cup run ended at Westwood Park as Wessex Premier champions Stoneham – the Purples – progressed to the final.
CLINICAL PURPLES END COWES’ CUP DREAM AT SEMI-FINAL STAGE
Cowes crashed out of the Velocity League Cup at the semi-final stage despite matching the the league champions for long spells.
Stoneham struck early on 7 minutes (0-1), Arty Kerton lifting a superb ball over the defence for Callum Laycock to smash a volley into the far corner.
Cowes responded brightly. Charlie Marsek beat 2 men before feeding Finley Phillips, whose effort was blocked, and soon after Will Bridi raced in behind and squared for Phillips again, only for a strong save to deny the equaliser.
Phillips then slipped a clever pass through for Bridi, but the chance got away as the ball stuck under his feet at the vital moment.
A blow followed before the break when Marsek was forced off injured, Mckie coming on and immediately taking a kick to the face, earning the Stoneham skipper a booking.
Half Time: Cowes Sports 0-1 Stoneham
Cowes remained well in the contest early in the 2nd half, with Ed Hatt producing an excellent tackle to deny a one-on-one chance.
However, the Purples showed their class on 60 minutes (0-2). Owen Fee slipped a precise pass through to Tom Annetts, who took a perfect first touch, skipped past his marker and finished calmly into the corner.
George Carter-Knight went close with a curling effort from distance, while Mckie later broke through onside but could not quite pick out Bridi.
Stoneham sealed it late on (0-3), winning possession at halfway before Leyton Read struck early from 25 yards into the bottom corner.
Cowes matched their opponents for long spells but were ultimately undone by ruthless finishing.
Full Time: Cowes Sports 0-3 Stoneham
Cowes Sports: Hatt; Hughes, Mumford, Chase, Oatley (C), Carter-Knight, Cook, Phillips, McFarlane, Bridi, Marsek. Subs: Gearing, Dempsey, Mckie, Cruttenden, Fever-Norton.
NEWPORT STORM BACK FROM 2 GOALS DOWN TO CLAIM DESERVED POINT IN NEW FOREST
A dominant 2nd-half display saw Newport recover a 2-goal deficit against Ringwood Town, with Thompsett’s late strike sealing a hard-earned draw.
Newport ended their away league campaign with a spirited performance at Ringwood, recovering from a difficult 1st half to take a deserved share of the spoils.
The Port struggled to find rhythm in the opening period, with misplaced passes and a lack of connection limiting their attacking threat. Ji Nash had their best opportunity and was also brought down when through on goal, but only a yellow card was shown.
Ringwood made the most of a defensive lapse to take the lead before the break (1-0), while Leon Pitman made 2 fine saves to keep Newport in the game.
Half Time: Ringwood 1-0 Newport
Newport were much improved after the restart, pressing higher and playing with greater intent as Joe Butcher and Josh Younie began to dictate the tempo.
Mikey Thompsett became increasingly influential down the left, delivering dangerous balls into the box and testing the defence. He went close with a header across goal, while Jordan Browne also fired over from close range.
Despite their dominance, Newport fell further behind when a loose pass allowed Ringwood to counter and finish simply (2-0).
The response was immediate. Browne pulled a goal back through a crowded area (2-1), shifting momentum firmly in Newport’s favour.
With the pressure building, Thompsett capped a standout display with a superb 20-yard strike (2-2), a goal that ensured Newport’s efforts were rewarded.
The Port pushed for a winner late on but had to settle for a point after a much-improved 2nd-half showing.
Full Time: Ringwood 2-2 Newport
Newport: Pitman; Grace, Thompsett, Butcher, Watterson (C), Holbrook, Nash, Younie, Browne, Mazambara, Arnold. Subs: Ballinger, Walsh. Man-of-the-Match: Thompsett
Newport now host AFC Aldermaston in their final game on Saturday before Cowes Sports and Newport meet in the Isle of Wight Senior (Gold) Cup final to bring the season to a close.
