A battling Cowes Sports side were knocked out of the 2nd round of the Wessex League Cup by AFC Stoneham at Miller Park yesterday evening (Tuesday).
Earlier in the season, the Yachtsmen had been knocked out of Hampshire Senior Cup by the same opponents by an emphatic 6-1 scoreline.
The Purples started strongly with their centre forward Duarte Martins heading wide in the 7th and 14th minutes, before finally striking the ball into the net in the 19th minute (1-0).
In the 24th minute, captain Fin Phillips had a chance to equalize for the Island side after connecting with a cross from Harri Catania, but saw his effort turned away for a corner by a Stoneham defender.
The Yachtsmen went 2 down on the half hour mark through a James Ovington header from a corner (2-0).
However, 2 minutes before the half time interval, Aedan Coode put Cowes back in the game by smashing the ball into the Stoneham net after having been put through by Caleb Neale (2-1).
Half time: AFC Stoneham 2-1 Cowes Sports
7 minutes into the 2nd half, Aedan Coode had 3 great opportunities to equalize for the Yachtsmen but was denied by 3 outstanding saves by Stoneham keeper Harrison Bruton.
In the 80th minute, Harri Catania was booked then immediately substituted by Zach Fever-Norton.
A minute later, James Ovington came close to making the game safe for the Purples when his free kick struck Ed Hatt’s crossbar.
There was a dramatic end to the game in injury time. First, Jez Conway – who had scored the winner against US Portsmouth the previous week – sent a long-range effort inches past the Stoneham upright. Then, Duarte Martins made the game safe for the hosts, bagging his brace shortly before the final whistle (3-1).
Full time: AFC Stoneham 3-1 Cowes Sports
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Dempsey (Balchin 90), Mumford (J Neale 63), White, West, Conway, Laird (Backshall 86), Catania (Fever-Norton 80), Coode, Phillips (c), C. Neale
