Cowes Sports lost 1-2 to Christchurch after conceding 2 minutes before the final whistle in an open, entertaining and competitive game last night (Tuesday).
The Yachtsmen had the lion’s share of the chances, but it was the away side who succeeded to find the finishing touch in front of goal.
Cowes attacked from the off with Mark Taylor winning a penalty – the 1st of the season for the home side – after just 5 minutes. Unfortunately, John McKie saw his spot kick parried by Christchurch keeper Harry Dillon. Ollie West then came close to heading in the resulting corner but again Dillon rose to the challenge.
Captain John had further 1st half opportunities to put the Yachtsmen in the lead in the 14th and 17th minutes but saw both efforts stopped by Dillon. Fin Phillips and Mark Taylor also had shots saved by the busy Christchurch keeper.
At the other end of the pitch, Christchurch had 1 first half shot fired just over the crossbar and a further goal attempt stopped by a great one-handed save from Ed Hatt 10 minutes from the interval.
Half time: Cowes Sports 0-0 Christchurch
The Yachtsmen made a couple of substitutions around the hour mark with Josh Appell coming on for Eli Ahmed and Aedan Coode replacing Harri Catania.
Cowes finally made the breakthrough in the 61st minute when Fin Phillips received the ball wide of the area, skipped past his marker, before rifling the ball into the top of the net from a tight angle (1-0).
However, Christchurch equalised a minute later when Conor Jevon dispatched a low shot past Ed Hatt (1-1).
The Yachtsmen then had several chances to regain the lead. In the 71st minute, Mark Taylor had a shot parried by Dillon. 2 minutes later, McKie had a powerful effort well saved by the Christchurch keeper. Dillon then kept out a Mark Taylor strike. Finally – in the 80th minute – Fin Phillips presented the luckless McKie with a golden opportunity to score, which he dispatched just past the upright.
Christchurch also had their chances. In the 73rd minute, Morgan Perrin stopped a shot on the goal line.
The sucker punch came 2 minutes from full time when Christchurch substitute Kyran Samadi saw his initial attempt on goal stopped by Hatt before knocking in the rebound (1-2).
Full time: Cowes Sports 1-2 Christchurch
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Laird, Dempsey, Perrin, West, McFarlane, Taylor, Catania (Coode), McKie, Ahmed (Appell), Phillips Subs (unused): Hayward, Bunday, Neale
The Yachtsmen’s defeat leaves them in 17th place in the Wessex Premier, 2 points above Bournemouth Poppies in the 2nd relegation spot.
PORT BOUNCE BACK FROM SATURDAY’S DEFEAT
In Wessex Division 1, 2nd-placed Newport recovered from defeat by league leaders New Milton Town by trouncing Fawley 7-0 at Smallbrook.
Jordan Chapman opened the scoring for Port after being set up by Connor Kelly (1-0). In the 26th minute, Kelly turned from provider to scorer by shooting through a crowded penalty area (2-0). Kelly then bagged his brace in the 35th with a poacher’s goal after Jordan Browne had had his goal attempt parried by the Fawley keeper (3-0).
In the 2nd half, Rafferty Boyd-Kerr got Port’s 4th after being set up by Kelly (4-0). Jordan Browne extended the home side’s lead on the hour mark (5-0). Jordan Chapman then became the 2nd Port player to bag a brace in the 66th (6-0). The final goal of the game came in the final minute of full-time courtesy of Joe Craig (7-0).
Newport (IoW) 7-0 Fawley
Newport (IoW): Pitman, Hughes, Hancott, Triggs (Reynolds), Oatley, Barron (McDonough), Kelly (Sainsbury), Boyd-Kerr (Harper), Browne, Craig, Chapman (Nash)
Port’s win leaves the County Town club in 2nd place in Wessex Division 1, 4 points behind leaders New Milton Town but with 4 games in hand.
Video: Robert Lunn
VICS RISE ABOVE RELEGATION PLACES
East Cowes Vics have now gone 5 games unbeaten after a goalless draw with 2nd-from-bottom Amesbury Town in Wiltshire.
Vics were unlucky not to have taken all 3 points after twice hitting their opponents’ crossbar, with Keelan Walsh striking the woodwork in the 1st half and Charlie Marsek hitting the bar in the 2nd.
Amesbury Town 0-0 East Cowes Vics
Vics: Ram, Snow, Walsh (West), Berry, Chase, Taylor (Ashley), H Yates, Lyon, Radford (Parsons), Newbold, Marsek
Vics’ point sees them rise 1 place to 17th in Wessex Division 1. They are now 1 point above 18th-placed Whitchurch United, who have 4 games in hand over the Island side.
Warren , the 6th goal was scored by Jordan Chapman. As seen clearly in the video.
The No11 on his back is quite clear. But also have a word with the video guy (Rob) as he gave the goal to Boyd-Kerr.