Cowes Sports took on one of the stronger sides in the Wessex Premier at Westwood Park on Tuesday evening and were very unlucky not to take all 3 points after Fareham scored an equalizing goal deep into stoppage time.
The Creeksiders came to Cowes with a full squad, despite announcing to the Portsmouth News that as many as 6 first team regulars would not be travelling across the Solent. In the event, only Ash Tattersall was missing for the Hampshire side. Cowes Sports welcomed back Gareth Bricknell after his exertions in the London Marathon.
The first half was an even affair. The Yachtsmen were dealt an early blow when Jimmy Wykes was forced off through injury, to be replaced by Morgan Perrin. Fareham, who always looked dangerous, took the lead in the 23rd minute with a low shot from the right side of the penalty area from centre forward, Callum Benfield (1-0). This led to a quick response from the Yachtsmen when an Aedan Coode corner found the in-form Darren Williams on the edge of the six-yard area at the near post, who levelled the score with a half-volley (1-1).
HT: Cowes Sports 1-1 Fareham Town
The 2nd half was anything but dull and featured some controversial decisions by referee, Robert Walczak. The Yachtsmen suffered a further blow when goal scorer Darren Williams was forced off the pitch with a knee injury, to be replaced by Jack Barsdell.
The action began in the 49th minute, when Ed Hatt pulled off a spectacular one handed save to stop Fareham regaining the lead before Jake Watson cleared a rebound effort off the line. 3 minutes later, Fareham goalkeeper Jon Webb was called into action at the other end as he too produced a magnificent one handed save to deny Jack Barsdell his first Cowes goal.
Both sides found themselves reduced to 10 men in the 75th minute. Jack Barsdell, who had earlier been booked, made a rash challenge on Fareham’s MacKenzie Hill, but referee Walczak played the advantage. Hill retaliated by making a dangerous challenge on Jez Conway. Barsdell was given a 2nd yellow followed by a red card, and Hill a straight red.
The Yachtsmen took the lead against the run of play in the 78th minute when an Aedan Coode cross slid across the face of the Fareham goal, Scott McFarlane raced after the ball before returning it to Ji Nash, who turned and sent a 10-yard left foot shot into the back of the net (2-1).
Yachtsmen centre-forward Nash (who had an excellent game) should have put the game beyond the reach of Fareham 4 minutes from time, when he broke free in the penalty area with only the goalkeeper to beat. However, Ji appeared to have been pushed in the back by Fareham defender Archie Willcox and fell flat on his face. That was not the opinion of referee Walczak, who, rather than awarding a penalty to Cowes and a red card to Willcox, opted to caution Ji for ‘simulation’.
A minute into injury time, referee Walczak made his 2nd controversial decision of the game when he ruled that Cowes skipper Callum Chase had handballed inside the Cowes penalty area, although evidence from the video of the game would suggest otherwise. Archie Willcox stepped up to take the spot kick, but Ed Hatt guessed the penalty taker’s intention correctly, diving low to his right to deflect the ball for a corner. From the resulting corner, Willcox made up for his penalty miss by heading the ball into the back of the net from 8 yards to deny the Yachtsmen 3 points (2-2).
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Wykes (17), Mumford, Watson, Chase (c), Conway, Bricknell, Mcfarlane, Williams (46), Coode (86), Nash Subs: Perrin (17), Barsdell (46), Coshell (86) Adams, Linington g/k
FT: Cowes Sports 2-2 Fareham Town
After the game, the Cowes management team of Max Draper and Alex Smith appeared to regard the result as a point gained against strong opposition, rather than 2 points lost. The Yachtsmen seem to have adopted the Millwall motto of “We fear no foe” in their attitude to the more fancied Portsmouth postcode sides.
Assistant manager Alex Smith said:
“The most important thing for us is that we have shown that we can mix it with anyone.”
Manager Max Draper said:
“We’re in every game, taking on the big boys. We compete right up to the final whistle. Put others in the mix such as Ewan (Cranwell), John (McKie) and Fin (Phillips), and we could do even better.”
The draw leaves Cowes Sports in 11th place in the Wessex Premier with 19 points from 14 games.
Entertainment and drama have not been in short supply at Westwood Park this season. Tuesday saw a higher-than-average crowd of 212. It is very unlikely that any dissatisfied customers demanded their money back.
This Saturday (30th October) the Yachtsmen take on 2nd-placed Horndean at Westwood Park. The Deans have a 100% record away from home this season. Their forward pairing of Zack Willett and Connor Duffin have scored 31 goals between them in the season so far. Expect a challenging encounter for Cowes.
In Saturday’s other Isle of Wight Wessex League fixture, in Division 1, 16th-placed East Cowes Vics take on 7th-placed Wiltshire side Downton at Beatrice Avenue. Vics come into the game following a 0-3 away win at Fleet Spurs last Saturday, A full report will appear in Island Echo.
Newport have now dropped to 3rd place in Wessex League 1 after Folland Sports 2-1 home victory against Infinity on Tuesday. This Saturday, the Port travel to North Hampshire to face 18th-placed Ash United. For anyone wishing to make the journey, a coach will be leaving St George’s Park at 10.45am on Saturday morning. The trip costs just £15 return, including coach and ferry.
In Isle of Wight Division 1, leaders Shanklin play Northwood St Johns at the County Ground; 2nd-placed W&B face Sandown & Lake at the Fairway Sports Complex; 3rd-placed Bembridge have a home tie against Niton at Steyne Park.
WESSEX LEAGUE FIXTURES FEATURING ISLE OF WIGHT CLUBS
Saturday 30th October
All Fixtures to Kick-Off at 14:00
Premier Division: Cowes Sports v Horndean
Division One: Ash United v Newport IoW; East Cowes Vics v Downton
ISLE OF WIGHT SATURDAY FOOTBALL LEAGUE 2021-22
Fixtures for Saturday 30th October
All Fixtures to Kick-Off at 14:00
Harwoods Renault IOW Saturday League Division 1: Bembridge v Niton Community; Oakfield v Brading Town; Ryde Saints v Cowes Sports Reserves; Shanklin v Northwood St Johns; Sandown & Lake v Whitecroft & Barton Sports; West Wight v Vectis; No Fixture: Binstead & COB
Division 2: Adgestone v East Cowes Sports; Carisbrooke United v High Park; Newport Reserves v Wroxall; Pan Community v East Cowes Vics Reserves; Seaview v AFC Wootton; Ventnor v Osborne Coburg; Yarmouth & Calbourne v Newchurch
Combination Division 1: Binstead & COB v Sandown & Lake; Brading Town v Shanklin; Northwood St Johns v West Wight; Ryde Saints v Oakfield; Whitecroft & Barton Sports v Osborne Coburg; No Fixture: Bembridge
Combination Division 2: AFC Wootton v Ventnor; Bembridge ‘A’ v Vectis; East Cowes Sports v Yarmouth & Calbourne; Newchurch v Pan Community; Niton Community v Carisbrooke United
Lets hope football isn’t too effected by increasing CV this season. Highlight of my week