The Isle of Wight’s sole representatives in this year’s FA Cup – Cowes Sports – were defeated by Wiltshire side Melksham Town in the Extra Preliminary Round of the FA Cup.
In an entertaining 90 minutes, the Southern League side proved too strong for their Wessex Premier opponents. However, the Yachtsmen were competitive throughout the game, and this was far from an easy victory for the mainland side.
The start of the game – which began in torrential rain – saw a minute’s silence to remember Club President Robin Merryfield, who has sadly passed away.
The Wiltshire side began on the front foot, with numerous chances in the 1st 20 minutes. In the 4th minute, Ralph Graham shot straight at Ed Hatt from the edge of the 6-yard box; in the 6th minute, Melksham had a goal attempt cleared off the Cowes goal line; the away side then lobbed the ball just over the crossbar before Hatt was forced to stop a powerful attempt on goal.
The Yachtsmen’s 1st clear chance came in the 22nd minute when Connor Kelly shot over the crossbar from a promising position.
Melksham Town took the lead in the 24th minute through a low shot from the edge of the penalty area that just eluded the grasp of Ed Hatt (0-1).
The Yachtsmen came agonizingly close to equalising on the half-hour mark when Melksham’s Don Molyneaux sent the ball inches past his own right post. 5 minutes before the half time break, John McKie had an opportunity to put the home side back on level terms, but saw his shot trickle past the upright after chipping the Melksham keeper.
Half Time: Cowes Sports 0-1 Melksham Town
The Yachtsmen turned the game into a competitive contest 2 minutes into the start of the 2nd half when Scott McFarlane converted a Colson corner at the far post (1-1).
5 minutes later, Melksham came close to increasing their lead when Hatt was rounded, but Jimmy Mumford appeared – seemingly out of nowhere – to hoof the ball away from danger.
The Wiltshire side regained their lead in the 58th minute through a Gary Higdon half-volley (1-2).
5 minutes later, Melksham doubled their lead through a speculative shot from Alex Henshall from just outside the area (1-3).
In the 71st minute, centre forward Jez Conway ensured a nervous last 20 minutes for the away side by acrobatically converting a ball that had rebounded off the crossbar from a Connor Kelly shot (2-3).
Melksham almost regained their 2-goal advantage 2 minutes later when a curling free kick bounced off the Cowes goal post.
The Yachtsmen had 2 good opportunities to equalise in the final 10 minutes. First, George Colson forced a good save from Melksham keeper Joel Manning, Then, substitute George Carter-Knight shot just over the crossbar.
However, the final word in the game went to Melksham’s Ben Brooks, who killed the game as a contest by scoring in injury time to ensure a happy home journey for the Wiltshire side and ending the Isle of Wight’s interest in the 2023/24 FA Cup
Full time: Cowes Sports 2-4 Melksham Town
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Mumford, Hancott (Dempsey), Barron, Oatley, McFarlane (Carter-Knight), Phillips (Triggs), Colson, Conway, McKie, Kelly Subs (unused): Orton (gk), Neale, Cook, Ahmed
After the game, Melksham manager Mark Collier said he thought his side should have scored more than 4. However he praised the Cowes team for keeping the game going and “working their socks off for their manager”.
This Tuesday (8th August), Cowes Sports face a difficult home tie in the Wessex Prem against Portsmouth-based Baffins Milton Rovers. Kick off is at 19:30.
East Cowes Vics are also at home on Tuesday against Southampton-based Millbrook. Kick off is at the later time of 19:45.
Both Wessex Division 1 games featuring Isle of Wight sides – Andover Town v East Cowes Vics and Newport v Fawley – were postponed (the only 2 Wessex League fixtures to have fallen victim to the weather).
