AFC Portchester, reputedly the wealthiest side in the Wessex League, came to Cowes expecting an easy victory yesterday (Saturday) but slunk back across the Solent empty handed.
Before the game at Westwood Park, Portchester boss Dave Carter had told his local paper, the Portsmouth News: “We’ve got three games – Cowes, Christchurch and Amesbury – I think they’re more or less the bottom three in the league. We’ve got to take maximum points out of that.”
Cowes manager Max Draper told Island Echo he dispensed with his team talk before the game and showed his players the Portsmouth News quote. It was then up to the team to decide whether they deserved the Portchester boss’s description. At the end of the afternoon, the bottom 3 side had overtaken AFC Portchester in the Wessex Premier table.
The Yachtsmen were bolstered by the welcome return from injury of 2 of their most influential players: John McKie and Fin Phillips. But neither were fully fit and both started on the substitutes bench. Jimmy Wykes and Darren Williams were unable to start due to injury and Aedan Coode was unavailable.
The first 30 minutes of the game were dominated by Portchester, but – thanks to some excellent contributions by Jake Watson, Callum Chase and man-of-the-match Max Coshell in defence – Cowes goalkeeper Ed Hatt was largely untroubled by Portchester attempts on goal. The game sprang to life in the 36th minute when Ji Nash was fouled just inside the Portchester penalty area. Connor Furmidge coolly stepped up to take the spot kick, sending portly Portchester keeper Steven Mowthorpe the wrong way (1-0).
Portchester immediately set about the task of equalizing and 3 minutes after conceding Lee Wort latched onto a free kick from near the halfway line to send a low shot past Ed Hatt (1-1). Then, 4 minutes before half time, came one of the strangest own goals ever seen at Westwood Park when Sam Pearce sent a 35-yard back pass past his keeper and into the Portchester net (2-1).
HT: Cowes Sports 2-1 AFC Portchester
Both sides appeared evenly matched in the second half. The first chance of the half fell to Ji Nash, who rounded the Portchester keeper but found the angle too acute to score. The Portchester defence appeared to have cast Connor Furmidge in the role of pantomime villain, making the most of any challenge by the powerful centre forward, leading to his being booked in the 54th minute, and then taken off to be replaced by… John McKie. McKie made an impact immediately, setting up Ji Nash with a scoring opportunity then having an attempt on goal himself.
The Yachtsmen had Ed Hatt to thank for preserving their lead when he pulled off a magnificent one-handed save in the 71st minute. Shortly after, John McKie came close to scoring for the home side but his bicycle kick hit the roof of the net.
As the game came to a close, Cowes appeared the stronger side. In injury time, Ji Nash broke through the Portchester defence for a second time but delayed his shot too long to score. Finally, George Holmes attempted a long-range lob with the Portchester keeper out of his area but missed the target.
The game ended in controversy after the Cowes team rushed to the main stand to celebrate with their supporters, leading to an altercation with the Portchester bench and players, in which one of the Portchester technical staff was red carded for physically handling referee Justyn Leonard.
FT: Cowes Sports 2-1 AFC Portchester
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Coshell, Ricketts, Watson, Chase, Conway (Perrin), Mumford, McFarlane (Phillips), Furmidge (McKie), Nash, Holmes. Subs not used: Camara, Linington
After the game, Cowes Sports manager Max Draper said:
“The Portchester manager did our job for us with his pre-match comments and got what was coming to him. We ain’t the team of old that fold.”
Assistant manager Alex Smith said:
“We always play better against ‘top’ teams. We like to look at ourselves as underdogs. It suits us when they write us off.”
The Yachtsmen’s win leaves them in 12th place in the Wessex Premier, 4 places above Portchester, who are now in 16th place
Wessex League 1: East Cowes Vics 1-5 Verwood Town
It was Groundhog Day for Vics who lost 1-5 at home for the second Saturday in succession. Verwood led 0-3 at half time before adding 2 more second half goals to their tally. Jimmi Burton scored a consolation goal for Vics with a neat finish in the 70th minute.
After the game, manager Richard Woodburn said:
“This was the 5th occasion we have lost by 5 goals. We were 2nd best. There wasn’t enough desire and hunger. We’ve got to regroup and start again. Sometimes you’ve got to learn to lose before you can win.”
Richie was optimistic about the Wessex League Cup tie against Folland Sports at Beatrice Avenue on Tuesday evening. He said:
“It’s a free hit. No-one’s expecting us to win. We’ve saved our best football for the cup. Anything can happen.”
Wessex League 1: Andover Town 3-2 Newport IoW
The Port fell from 1st to 3rd position in Wessex League 1 after losing 3-2 in North Hampshire to 4th-placed Andover Town. After a goalless first half, Andover took the lead with 2 goals from Joshua Bertie in the 52nd and 61st minutes. The Island side struck back in the 80th minute when Joe Craig bundled in a corner before Connor Kelly scored an equalizing goal 3 minutes later.
However, with just 3 minutes of full time left on the clock, Freeman Nyakumbi scored the winning goal for Andover, to send the Islanders home empty handed.
Newport’s next game will be home to current league leaders Folland Sports at Smallbrook Stadium on Saturday 13th November
