Cowes Sports returned home with a point from a high scoring draw with Downton after taking a 2-goal lead.
The first chance of the game fell to the Robins, with Ed Hatt forced to make a point blank save in the 5th minute.
The Yachtsmen had a lucky escape in the 20th minute when Downton centre forward Phillips headed on to the crossbar.
However, the Yachtsmen took the lead just past the half hour mark when Jordan Browne played the ball on to Charlie Marsek, who clipped the ball past Robins keeper Stainer-Reid (0-1).
2 minutes later, Ryan Hughes was fouled in the penalty area, with Scott McFarlane stepping up to blast the ball under Stainer-Reid from the resulting spot kick (0-2).
Hatt was again called to action shortly before half time, making a further fine save to deny the home side.
In the final minute of the first half, Downton were awarded a penalty when the ball struck Harrison Dempsey’s hand, with the Robins’ skipper Ryan Osman stepping up to fire the ball into the top right corner of Hatt’s goal (1-2).
Half time: Downton 1-2 Cowes Sports
The Yachtsmen regained their 2-goal cushion in the 2nd minute of the 2nd half when Callum Chase headed home a Jake Wright cross (1-3).
The Robins pulled a goal back in the 53rd minute when controversially awarded a further penalty, which was again dispatched by Osman (2-3).
Cowes went down to 10 men after Callum Chase was sinbinned for disputing the decision.
Hatt was then forced to make 2 further fine saves to preserve the Island side’s lead.
However, Downton equalised with a scrappy goal from Asa Phillips 10 minutes from full time to deny Cowes all 3 points from their visit to Wiltshire (3-3).
Full time Downton 3-3 Cowes Sports
Cowes Sports:: Hatt, Hughes, Dempsey, Chase, Oatley (c), Wright, Tout-Walters, Cook (Phillips), Browne, McFarlane, Marsek (Turner) Subs: Lovett-Fenner, G. Bridi
Cowes remain 12th in Wessex Division 1 with 33 points from 26 games.
Co-manager Mark Woodhouse commented after the match:
“The conditions really made it an entertaining game. We gritted it out. 10 minutes into the game, we had to really change the way we were playing. The downpour caused chaos with the pitch.
“I’m really proud of the way the lads adapted. It’s a good learning experience.
“Conditions were hard and we knew mistakes would be made. But we gritted it out and managed to get the point. We’ll take it and move on.”
On Tuesday, the Yachtsmen travel to Portsmouth to face Baffins Milton Rovers.
Co-manager Ian Potts says of the challenge:
“Another massive game. Recently their manager left and they had a caretaker in,, so they’ve got players back and been on a good run the last few weeks. And they’re pushing for the playoffs.
“It’ll be another hard game, but we’re on a bit of a run ourselves.
“Hopefully, we can carry it on and get 3 points and keep moving up the table.”
