Cowes Sports’ victory against US Portsmouth leaves the Island side requiring only 5 more points to secure their Wessex Premier status.
Cowes manager Max Draper made 4 changes to the side beaten in mid-week as Jason Malcolmson and Ji Nash returned to the starting 11 along with new signing from Chichester City, Scott Jones. Another new face on the bench was Shay Dixon from Sandown & Lake, son of former Yachtsmen Lee Dixon.
The Yachtsmen opened the scoring in the 16th minute when a Fin Phillips corner fell for Jake Watson on the 6-yard line to guide the ball into the net (1-0).
Cowes doubled their advantage on the half hour mark when a Scott Jones cross was headed into the air by John McKie and the ball fell nicely to skipper Fin Phillips, who placed his shot into the bottom left-hand corner of the USP net (2-0).
The Portsmouth side responded within a minute through a thunderous Joe Johnson strike that cannoned off the Cowes crossbar. The home side then withstood some pressure from the United Services side to go into the half time break with a comfortable 2-goal advantage.
Half time: Cowes Sports 2-0 United Services Portsmouth
The visitors were back in the game when in the 58th minute when Luke Slade poked the ball past Ed Hatt (2-1). This stirred the Yachtsmen, and their 2-goal advantage was restored within 3 minutes when Ji Nash picked up the ball on the left of the penalty area, cut back inside his marker and neatly curled the ball past the outstretched right hand of Dylan Kramer into the right corner of the goal (3-1).
The Yachtsmen’s Conor White was then forced off with a head injury. The result should have been put beyond doubt in the 72nd minute when John McKie was put through on goal: he rounded the keeper with ease but saw his shot cannon off the left post. In the 85th minute, a Ji Nash corner was cleared off the line. Seconds before the end, Ji Nash beat two defenders only to see his shot pushed away for a corner by their keeper.
Full time: Cowes Sports 3-1 United Services Portsmouth
Cowes Sports: Hatt, White (Barsdell), Malcolmson, West, Watson, Flux (Adams), Phillips (c), Mumford (Coode), Jones, Mckie, Nash. Subs (not used): Williams, Dixon.
After the game, Cowes Sports manager Max Draper said:
“It was a scrappy game. A goal from Jake Watson from a corner, Finley Phillips, and a lovely finish from Ji Nash made the difference. Although we weren’t at the races, we took our chances and won, which makes a change. Some very tired bodies out there after a busy month and a bit, but always nice to claim another valuable 3 points towards our target.
“The lads have put a good shift in over the last few weeks, so a good rest and reset is needed this week before we head into a tough game away at high flying Bashley.”
The Yachtsman’s victory leaves them in 15th place in the Wessex Premier with 33 points from 30 games, 19 points above Hythe & Dibden in the relegation zone.
Report compiled with assistance of Glynn Skinner. Video courtesy of Cowes Sports FC
