Cowes Sports failed to take any points from their visit to Baffins Milton Rovers despite taking a 50th minute lead.
After an early scare when a Baffins striker beat the offside trap, the Yachtsmen had 2 great chances. The first fell to Jared Tout-Walters, who was put through by Ryan Hughes, but failed to make the most of the scoring opportunity. Browne then lobbed the Baffins keeper before seeing his effort cleared by a defender,
Further chances for the Yachtsmen followed in the 23rd and 29th minutes when Tout-Walters and Charlie Marsek sent a low crosses into the penalty area with no team mate present to apply the finishing touch.
Baffins came close to taking the lead in the 32nd minute with a long free kick that bounced off the crossbar.
The home side took the lead 7 minutes from half time when Charlie Ball turned and volleyed the ball past Ed Hatt (1-0).
Half time: Baffins Milton Rovers 1-0 Cowes Sports
The Yachtsmen equalised in the 2nd minute of the 2nd half when Scott McFarlane backheeled the ball into the goal from the edge of the 6-yard box (1-1).
In the 50th minute, Charlie Marsek put Cowes into the lead after following up from a shot from Ryan Oatley (1-2).
The home side came back hard, earning a penalty in the 62nd minute. In the aftermath of the penalty award, Captain Ryan Oatley was sinbinned for questioning the decision and co-manager Mark Woodhouse red-carded. Bell then bagged his brace from the penalty spot (2-2).
Baffins took the lead in the 79th minute when their no 11 Kelvin Robinson beat Callum Chase to the ball before shooting into the left side of the goal (3-2).
The Yachtsmen ended the game with 10 men after Chase was sinbinned in the 83rd minute.
Full time: Baffins Milton Rovers 3-2 Cowes Sports
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Hughes, Dempsey, Chase, Oatley (c), Wright, Tout-Walters, Cook, Browne, McFarlane, Marsek Subs: Phillips, McKie, Myram, Gearing, Fever-Norton
The Yachtsmen remain 12th in the Wessex Premier with 33 points from 27 games.
After the game, co-manager Ian Potts said:
“I am a little bit disappointed not to come away with at least a point. I think we thoroughly deserved a point.
“We were playing some nice football and were quite solid at the back. Going forward, we looked good on and off the ball.
“We’ve got a couple of disciplinary issues we’ve got to sort out. The lads tried and kept going, but it just wasn’t to be tonight.
“I can’t knock any of the lads for their effort.
I’m very proud of the team and the way they handled themselves, but we’ve got to move on now.”
EAST COWES VICTORIA SNATCH DRAW FROM JAWS OF VICTORY
East Cowes Victoria failed to return 3 points to the Isle of Wight despite taking a late 2nd half lead.
Vics had the majority of the possession and chances in the first half without managing to find the finishing touch.
The breakthrough for the Island side came 7 minutes from full time through captain Liam Newbold (0-1).
Sadly, Vics were unable to take the win home as Lymington equalised with the last kick of the game (1-1) – the only shot the home side had had had in the entire 90 minutes plus injury time.
Full time: Lymington Town 1-1 East Cowes Victoria
East Cowes Victoria: Law, Snow, Bricknell, Newbold, Wheeler, Perrin, Chapman, Boyd-Kerr, Jones, Reynolds, C. Neale Subs: J. Neale, Hart, Voller, Sullivan, Coode
Vics remain 4th in Wessex Division 1, with 54 points from 26 games, 14 points behind leaders New Milton Town.
