Cowes Sports were held to a draw at the Zilch Waste Stadium by Wessex Premier Laverstock & Ford while East Cowes Vics lost to Southern League Bashley in the Extra-Preliminary round of the FA Cup this afternoon.
Newport were beaten away from home by Romsey Town in their first Wessex Division 1 fixture.
YACHTSMEN FAIL TO PUT DOWN BULLDOGS
Cowes Sports were held at home by Wiltshire side Laverstock & Ford in an entertaining draw.
The Bulldogs took first blood in the 8th minute when a mishit pass from Callum Chase was intercepted by midfielder Tommy Campbell-Smith, whose deflected shot beat Cowes keeper Hatt (0-1).
However, 2 minutes from the end of an even first half, John McKie drilled the ball across the face of the goal for Jared Tout-Walters to put the ball past the Laverstock keeper at the far post to level the scores at half time (1-1).
Half time: Cowes Sports 1-1 Laverstock & Ford
John McKie had a good scoring opportunity early on in the 2nd half but lost his legs in the penalty area when clean through. Cowes centre forward Jordan Browne then blasted the ball over the crossbar.
The Yachtsmen took the lead for the first time in the game when Jordan Browne knocked in a low Fin Phillips free kick in the 63rd minute (2-1).
3 minutes later, the away side – who always appeared dangerous on the break – equalised when Cameron Roach lobbed Hatt (2-2).
Jordan Browne was then unlucky not to have won the game for Cowes when his bouncing header was palmed on to the crossbar by the Lavertock keeper in the 73rd minute.
Full time: Cowes Sports 2-2 Laverstock & Ford
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Hughes, Mumford (Dempsey), Chase, Oatley, Colson, McKie (c), Phillips, Browne, Cook, Tout-Walters (Marsek) Subs (unused): Perrin, Carter-Knight, Sanderson, Haward, Gearing
Man-of-the-match: Jordan Browne
Cowes Sports will now face Laverstock & Ford for the 2nd time at the Dell in Wiltshire on Tuesday evening.
VICS BESTED BY BASHLEY IN NEW FOREST
East Cowes Victoria were knocked out of the FA Cup at the extra-preliminary round stage by Southern League Bashley.
The first half finished goalless. However, Vics had a couple of good scoring opportunities with Jacob Reynolds sending a Harrison Yates cross over the bar in the 19th minute and Caleb Neale having a shot tipped past the upright by the Bashley keeper 5 minutes from half time.
Half time: Bashley 0-0 East Cowes Victoria
Josh Neale had an excellent opportunity to put the East Cowes side into the lead in the 50th minute in a one-on-one with the Bashley keeper but sent the ball high over the goal.
5 minutes later, Bashley keeper Lloyd Thomas was forced into making a crucial save for the Southern League side when a long free kick caused issues at the back post. Lloyd Thomas was then forced into making a further vital double save in the 70th minute.
The deadlock was finally broken by Bashley 9 minutes from full time when Dan Walster got his head to a Josh Bertie free kick (1-0).
Vics finally got the ball in the back of the net in the 90th minute but had their equaliser ruled offside.
Full time: Bashley 1-0 East Cowes Victoria
East Cowes Victoria: Ram, Holbrook (Snow), Yates, Newbold (Sullivan), Triggs, Wheeler, Wright, Boyd-Kerr, J. Neale, Reynolds, C. Neale (Hart) Subs (unused): Law, Mazambara, Wragg
PORT BEATEN IN SEASON OPENER
Newport began their new season with a disappointing defeat at the hands of Romsey.
Port had the first chance to break the deadlock when a deflected Butcher shot struck the post in the 20th minute.
In the 33rd minute, Romsey opened the scoring when Port keeper Pitman was beaten by Mlondo Masuku (1-0). However, Pitman had been fouled in the build-up to the goal and was sin-binned for his protests. His place between the sticks was taken by Matt Benford.
Half time: Romsey Town 1-0 Newport IW
Romsey doubled their lead straight after the break with a good finish from a tight angle from Brandon Hill in the 55th minute (2-0). Port were then thrown an immediate lifeline when Kai Grace was upended in the box, with Ji Nash calmly tucking away the resulting spot kick (2-1).
Romsey sealed the game with 2 further goals from defensive errors with Hill bagging his brace and Harry Edmonson also on the scoresheet for the home side (4-1).
The game ended with a red card awarded to a Romsey substitute for attempting to hold on to the ball.
Full time: Romsey Town 4-1 Newport IW
Newport IW: Pitman, Benford Egerton-Read), Watterson, Thompsett, Lamb, Craig (Kirby), Oatley (Walsh), Butcher, Grace, Young, Nash Subs (unused): Goldberg, Arnold
Port next travel to Bournemouth Poppies on Tuesday in the Hampshire Senior Cup..
