Match Report: Cowes Sports Reserves v Northwood St John

ISLE OF WIGHT SATURDAY FOOTBALL LEAGUE
DIVISION ONE

WEDNESDAY AUGUST 30TH 2017

COWES SPORTS RESERVES 3 v 0 NORTHWOOD ST JOHNS

Following the eventful local Wessex League derby on Bank Holiday Monday it was the turn of the Reserves to take centre stage at Westwood Park when they hosted Cowes rivals Northwood St John in their second Island League game of the new campaign.

Both sides had suffered defeats on the opening Saturday of the season, Cowes losing 0 – 3 at Binstead COB whilst Northwood were defeated at West Wight, 1 – 2.

Cowes second string started brightly and came close in the 14th minute when Ollie McArthur fired wide from the edge of the area. The visitors responded as Luke Lambert made his way into the Cowes box before shooting across the goal, a defender got a touch to divert for a corner. The game appeared to go in Cowes’ favour in the 32nd minute when George Turner latched onto a through ball, Northwood keeper, Connor Brady raced outside his area and clipped the Cowes forward, Referee Callum McFarlane had no hesitation in showing their keeper a red card. Jack Broomfield took over in goal. Toby Cousins sent his effort over the Cowes bar as Northwood frustrated the Reserves attempts to take advantage of the extra player. Seconds before half time the home side should have taken the lead when Callum Taylor sent a shot towards the top left corner of the Northwood goal, but stand in keeper Jack Broomfield produced a fantastic save to push the shot away to safety and keep the game goal less at half time.

H-t 0 – 0
A minute into the second half and again Jack Broomfield was in action this time diving low to his left to push the ball away for a corner after George Turner had set up Ben Holdsworth for a shot at goal. St John’s left back, Luke Flux then sent a header straight at Sam Sanders before an amazing sequence of events reduce Northwood to nine men. Following a Cowes attack a bit of an altercation in the box was not seen by the Referee, but as he turned round he saw Luke Flux with his hands around Billy Heards neck and immediately showed a red card. However after a long discussion in the centre of the pitch with the Northwood linesman he changed his decision as Luke had been trying to calm the situation down, but he then produced a red card for Matt Novack although why was not clear. Callum Chase(injured) was replaced by Dan Verstaeten(57 min) before Callum Taylor(71 min) and Jordon Stacey(82 min) were replaced by Callum Witham and Max Coshell respectively. Despite the numerical advantage the home side were struggling to break down a resolute defence and a goal less draw looked on the cards. Jack Broomfield again kept Cowes at bay saving a header from a corner before George Turner saw his free kick cannon back off the crossbar and Ben Holdsworth had his follow up header saved on the line. The breakthrough finally came in the 86th minute when Ollie McArthur played the ball out to the left to Dan Witham who crossed into the danger area and Northwood’s JOE TIGWELL slid the ball into his own net past the helpless Jack Broomfield, much to the relief of all connected to Cowes Sports. The visitors should have levelled a minute later when Luke Flux headed against Sam Sanders’ left hand post and panic set in the Cowes defence before the ball was cleared. In the final minute another ball out to the left found CALLUM WATKINS who with no other options available to him curl the ball over Jack Broomfield into the top left corner of their goal to increase the Yachtsmen’s lead. Those at the game are unlikely to witness a better goal this season. In injury time a third goal was added when GEORGE TURNER netted with a low shot past Broomfield to complete the scoring.

After the final whistle the Northwood Management confronted the Referee to answer some questions.

 

COWES SPORTS RESERVES – Sam Sanders, Callum Chase(replaced by Dan Verstaeten 57), Morgan Perrin, Billy Heard, Ben Holdsworth, Oliver McArthur, Dan Witham, Jordon Stacey(replaced by Max Coshell 82), James Whitewood B, Callum Taylor c(replaced by Callum Watkins 71), George Turner, Subs not used – Harrison McCarthy + James Wright.

NORTHWOOD ST JOHNS – Connor Brady S/O, Rob Simmonds, Luke Flux, Joe Collins, Joe Tigwell, James Flux c, Nicholas Vyse, Jack Broomfield, Luke Lambert, Matt Novack S/O, Toby Cousins, Subs:- Sam Saunders, Jordan Whittle, Paul Marshall, Dan Flux.