Cowes Sports Reserves went 2nd in Isle of Wight Division 1 after beating champions Shanklin at Westwood Park on Tuesday evening (15th August).
This was the Seasider’s 1st defeat in Island League football since 29th January 2022 when the Seasiders lost 2-0 to W&B at Sandy Lane. Since then, they have gone 36 games and 18 months unbeaten.
The Shanklin team that faced Cowes Sports was much changed from the one that had won back-to-back championships in successive seasons, with Jordan Cook and George Carter-Knight leaving for Cowes, Kyle Drew going to W&B, Cory Sanderson playing for East Cowes Vics, goalkeeper Jamie Linington departing for Osborne Coburg, Ryan Gregory joining Vectis and Macca Watterson donning on the yellow shirt of Newport.
The Yachtsmen began the game brightly and should have been at least 3 goals up at the half time break but for some profligate finishing. The first chance fell for Caleb Neale in the 11th minute, who was unable to lob the ball past Shanklin keeper Hawkins. George Holmes then had a couple of opportunities to score for the home side in the 23rd and 24th minutes but was unable to convert either. On the half hour mark, Peter Biss had a shot turned onto the post by Hawkins.
The half ended with a rare chance for Shanklin when Dan Field saw his shot cannon off the crossbar.
Half Time: Cowes Sports Reserves 0-0 Shanklin
The shape of the game changed 5 minutes after the half time break when Zak Fever-Norton was dismissed for a professional foul, leaving the Yachtsmen to play the remainder of the game with 10 men.
Cowes continued to press, with Connor Furmidge shooting over the crossbar and Caleb Neale having a shot blocked on the line. Dan Field had a further opportunity to put the away side into the lead when clean through but shot the ball at the advancing Ben Orton.
The deadlock was finally broken in the 65th minute when Shanklin goalkeeper Hawkins misjudged a ball from Harry Ridley, allowing Dan Pearson to take advantage to put the Yachtsmen into the lead (1-0).
Both sides had chances in the final 20 minutes. Ethan Jones shot over the crossbar for Shanklin and Caleb Neale had an effort stopped by Hawkins. However, the match ended with a single goal separating the 2 sides.
Full time: Cowes Sports Reserves 1-0 Shanklin
Cowes Sports Reserves: Orton, Nowak, Biss, Perrin, Coshell, West. Whittle, Fever-Norton, Holmes, Furmidge, Neale Subs: Mazambara, Ridley, Pearson
Shanklin: Hawkins, Wilson, White, Jones, Little, Trowbridge, Builth, Drudge, Field, Calvert, Dale Subs: Saunders, Seabrook, Faulkner
Victory leaves the Yachtsman level on points with W&B at the top of the Division 1 table but trailing on goal difference.
Ventnor 0-3 Whitecroft & Barton
In the other Division 1 game to be played on Tuesday evening, W&B saw off newly-promoted Ventnor at Watcombe Bottom by a 3-goal margin to top the table. Matt Evans, Luke Lambert and a penalty from Aidan Sainsbury were the difference between the 2 sides.
Isle of Wight Division 1 table below:
Cowes Sports Reserves went second in …