Cowes Sports comfortably beat Laverstock & Ford at the Zilch Waste Stadium (Westwood Park) by a 4-goal margin this afternoon (Saturday) to extend their unbeaten run to 5 games.
The Yachtsmen were unlucky not to have scored 6 after having 2 goals disallowed in the 1st half. The Isle of Wight’s sole Wessex Premier representatives last lost back in November, since when they have managed 3 wins and 2 draws.
Cowes appeared to have taken the lead in the 5th minute when a Fin Phillips free kick was converted by Charlie Marsek. However, Phillips slipped while taking the free kick, touching the ball twice, leading to the goal being disallowed.
The Bulldogs were unlucky not to have gone ahead in the 22nd minute when the ball bounced off the crossbar. However, the Yachtsmen were in the ascendancy for the remainder of the match.
Cowes took the lead in the 28th minute when a Laverstock centre back gifted the ball to Jordan Cook, who passed to Jordan Browne, who then knocked the ball on to captain John McKie, who scored in the bottom left corner (1-0).
Callum Chase put the ball in the Laverstock net 3 minutes later, knocking a free kick in off the upright, but the ‘goal’ was disallowed for offside.
The Yachtsmen added a 2nd 3 minutes from half time when man-of-the-match Charlie Marsek was fouled in the penalty area, with Cap’n John converting the resulting spot kick to bag his brace (2-0).
McKie was then substituted shortly before half time with an apparent hamstring strain, to be replaced by George Carter-Knight.
Half time: Cowes Sports 2-0 Laverstock & Ford
The Yachtsmen added a 3rd goal 10 minutes into the 2nd half through a superb 25-yard strike from George Carter-Knight into the right of the goal (3-0).
Scott McFarlane had a good scoring opportunity for the home side 7 minutes from full time when a Laverstock centre back headed the ball into his path, but he volleyed over the crossbar.
Cowes added a 4th in injury time when substitute Jared Tout-Walters headed home a George Carter-Knight cross at the far post (4-0).
Full time: Cowes Sports 4-0 Laverstock & Ford
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Hughes, Mumford, Chase, Oatley, Phillips, Cook, Wright, Browne, McKie (c), Marsek Subs: Dempsey, Carter-Knight, McFarlane, Tout-Walters, Jackman
Victory for the Yachtsmen leaves the Cowes side 11th in the Wessex Premier with 29 points from 22 games.
5TH SUCCESSIVE VICTORY FOR VICTORIANS AT ROMSEY TOWN
East Cowes Victoria won their 5th successive game by a single goal away to Romsey Town.
However, the match was marred by injuries to 3 key Vics players: Jacob Reynolds, Liam Triggs and Aedan Coode.
The East Cowes side suffered their 1st injury as early as the 12th minute when Jacob Reynolds was forced off the pitch to be replaced by Josh Neale.
Vics took the lead on the stroke of half time when Rafferty Boyd-Kerr knocked in a Harrison Yates cross at the far post after a swiftly taken corner (0-1).
The visitors were forced into a further change at half time, with Liam Triggs unable to continue to be replaced by Aedan Coode. However, Coode was then himself substituted by Charlie Hart after suffering a deep gash to the shin, which required 12 stitches.
East Cowes Vics held on to their narrow lead on a tricky surface for the remainder of the game to return home across the Solent with an invaluable 3 points.
Full time: Romsey Town 0-1 East Cowes Victoria.
After the game, Vics manager Alex Smith said:
“We faced a very resilient Romsey side, who set up really well and intelligently. Tactically, they tried to match our shape, which is not often a problem that we face. So, it was interesting to try to find the right solutions.
“We also had to win the energy battle, as they were very determined, hard to break down and provided a genuine threat.
“Credit to our guys, we didn’t back down from a challenge and dug deep and definitely earned our points.”
“We were fortunate we had such a strong bench today. There have been times in the past when if we lose 3 players of quality, we would struggle to replace them.”
3 points leaves East Cowes Vics 4th in Wessex Division 1 with 47 points from 21 games. Vics have 3 games in hand on all the teams above in the table.
PORT STILL SEEKING 1ST WIN OF 2025 AFTER LOSS TO ASH UNITED
Newport lost 0-3 at Beatrice Avenue to bottom-of-the-table Ash United.
Port started the game brightly, with a goal ruled out for an apparent off side, Kai Grace seeing a 1-on-1 chance not taken, and Joe Craig having a left-footed shot parried away.
The game changed just before half time when the visitors were awarded a penalty following a slight tug of an Ash United striker’s shorts, which was enough for him to go down. Port keeper Pitman got a hand to the spot kick, but he couldn’t keep out Morris Musslewhite’s strike (0-1).
Half time: Newport IW 0-1 Ash United
The 132 Beatrice Avenue crowd had hoped that Newport would react to the half time result, but the home side never looked like getting back into the game. The 2nd half began with Michael Thompsett sin binned after being floored by an Ash United player already on a yellow. In the 70th minute, Newport went further behind, conceding straight from a Rico Zonde corner (0-2).
Ash United’s 3rd goal was something special, with James Chivers waltzing through the Port defence 7 minutes from the full time whistle to score a skilful individual goal (0-3).
Full time: Newport IW 0-3 Ash United
Newport IW: Pitman, Holbrook, West, Thompsett, Watterson, Taylor, Younie, Young, Nash, Grace, Craig Subs (all used): Goldberg, Oatley, Walsh, Butcher, Conway
Newport remain 8th in the Wessex Division 1 table, 11 points behind Hamworthy United in the 4th playoff position.
On Wednesday, Newport welcome 12th-placed Romsey Town to Beatrice Avenue.
