YACHTSMEN MAKE A POINT WITH AWAY DRAW IN OPENING GAME AT FAREHAM

Cowes Sports drew their opening Wessex Premier League fixture away to Fareham Town at Cam Alders this evening (Tuesday). After a cagey start, the Yachtsmen showed their attacking intent in the 12th minute when a low cross from Scott McFarlane fell first to Jake Wright and then to Charlie Marsek, but both were thwarted by last-ditch tackles. Cowes continued to press, with Marsek unable to connect with a Liam Triggs cross 2 minutes later. The Yachtsmen were then fortunate not to fall behind in the 22nd minute with goalkeeper Ed Hatt forced to make an incredible double save, However, the Creeksiders then took the lead a minute later through right back Troy Wingfield on his league debut (1-0). Charlie Marsek had an opportunity to equalise for Cowes on the half hour mark but thighed the ball over the crossbar. Liam Triggs put the Yachtsmen on level terms 2 minutes from the half time interval with a volley from the penalty spot into the bottom right corner of the goal (1-1). Half time: Fareham Town 1-1 Cowes Sports The Yachtsmen were lucky not to have fallen behind for the 2nd time in the game 10 minutes after the interval when a powerful Fareham shot came crashing off the left post. Cowes then made a series of substitutions with Jordan Cook, Will Bridi Brandon Hayward, George Carter-Knight and Jimmy Mumford replacing Fin Phillips, Scott McFarlane, Joe Hancott, Flynn Jackman and Charlie Marsek, The Island side had a few chances to take home 3 points in the final quarter hour of the game, with Jimmy Mumford failing to test the Fareham keeper with a soft shot in the 75th minute, and Will Bridi sailing past 3 players before being blatantly pulled down by an opposition played 2 minutes from full time. Cowes Sports hung on for the remaining minutes of the game to return across the Solent with a point. Full time: Fareham Town 1-1 Cowes Sports Cowes Sports: Hatt, Dempsey. Hughes, Hancott, Oatley, Triggs, Phillips (c), Wright, McFarlane, Marsek, Jackman Subs: Cook, Carter-Knight, Mumford, Hayward, W. Bridi This Saturday, Cowes Sports travel to Salisbury in Wiltshire to take on Laverstock & Ford in the extra preliminary round of the Emirates FA Cup