Cowes Sports can count themselves fortunate to have gained a point from their 1st competitive game this season after having been reduced to 9 players after both Dom Sexton and Jimmy Wykes were ordered off the pitch for reckless challenges.
The Yachtsmen began the game with attacking intent. Captain, John McKie, was a potent threat against 1 of his former clubs, and powerhouse Jimmy Mumford worked tirelessly to create chances for the home side. The 1st chance fell to McKie in the 10th minute, who shot just past the post. 5 minutes later, Mumford sent the ball flying just over the crossbar. In the 17th minute, McKie had another effort blocked. Then, in the 27th minute, Aedan Coode hoofed the ball over the crossbar from a promising position. On the half hour mark, Jez Conway headed just past the post.
Despite the plentiful chances presented to the home side, it was Hamble who opened the scoring when Dom Sexton bundled over Lewis Nagle in the Cowes penalty area for Sam Woodward to blast the ball past Ed Hatt from the resulting spot kick in the 36th minute (0-1).
The Yachtsmen battled gamely to get a goal back before the interval. John McKie saw a low, deflected shot trickle past the right post in the 41st minute. Then—on the stroke of half time—Aedan Coode was fouled just outside the Hamble penalty area. Fin Phillips sent the resulting free kick spinning sublimely into the top right corner of the goal to put Cowes on level terms (1-1).
HT: Cowes Sports 1-1 Hamble Club
The Yachtsmen showed plenty of attacking intent in the 2nd half in a game that appeared to be headed for a home win. Aedan Coode had a powerful strike saved by Jack Martin in the Hamble goal shortly after the restart. In the 58th minute, Ji Nash headed just wide at the far post after connecting with a curling cross from Callum Chase. A minute later, John McKie had a strong penalty appeal turned down after being bundled over in the penalty area.
Max Draper then threw on 2 substitutes—Chris Elliott and Jimmy Wykes—in a final push for victory. However, disaster struck for the home side in the 74th minute when Dom Sexton—who had earlier been booked when conceding a penalty—received a 2nd yellow card for a reckless challenge and was forced to leave the field of play.
A few minutes later, the Yachtsmen were reduced to 9 men when substitute Jimmy Wykes committed what the opposition bench saw as a ‘brutal’ two-footed tackle and referee Krasimir Petrov instantly brought out the red card. But spectators close to the incident believed the decision to have been harsh and thought Jimmy unlucky to have been sent off after the referee had been unduly influenced by the vociferous reaction of the Hamble team to the challenge.
It was now Hamble’s turn to lay siege to the home side’s goal. The Monks came close to winning the game in the final seconds of injury time when Harris Wilson saw a deflected shot trickle past the post, and a header from the resulting corner flew past the upright. But the 9-man Cowes side managed to keep the visitors at bay until the final whistle.
FT: Cowes Sports 1-1 Hamble Club
Cowes Sports: Hatt, White, Sexton, Conway, Chase, Perrin, Phillips, Mumford, Nash, McKie, Coode – Subs: Wykes, Deviness, McFarlane, Cruise, Elliott
After the game, Cowes Sports manager, Max Draper, said:
“This was a game we could and should have won. But if you had offered me a draw with 9 men and 15 minutes left on the clock, I would have taken it.”
The Yachtsmen now lie in 9th place in the Wessex Premier Division with 4 points from 4 games. On Saturday, 21st August, Cowes travel to bottom-of-the-table Hythe & Dibden, hoping to take all 3 points.
Newport now top Wessex Division 1, having won all 3 games in their season so far, scoring 13 goals at an average of over 4 goals a game.
On Tuesday evening, the Port travelled across the Solent to trounce Totton & Eling 1-5. The Newport scorers were: Jordan Browne (hat-trick), Connor Kelly and Joe Butcher. The Island side have been bolstered by the return of young full back Ryan Hughes, who is dual signed with Gosport Borough.
Newport will face Salisbury side, Laverstock & Ford, at Smallbrook stadium on Saturday (21st August).
Tonight, East Cowes Vics travel to the mainland to face Fawley. Kick-off for the game is at the later time of 20:00. Vics are currently without a single point, following the abandonment of Saturday’s game against Andover Town in the 6th minute of injury time.
Results and roundups of Island League games will appear in Island Echo after the completion of Wednesday night’s fixtures.
