MATCH OFFICIALS: Referee – BRUCE WHYMARK
Assistants – Mike Misselbrook + Marcus Ward
Cowes Sports travelled to Hamble Community Facility to take on F A Vase last 16 side Hamble Club on a wet afternoon. The game had been in doubt due to the amount of rain throughout the week, but was passed fit to play in a morning inspection, before more rain fell from midday onwards. The match Officials took a long look upon their arrival but confirmed the match would go ahead.
A few changes from the side that had gained its first away point of the season a couple of weeks earlier, Aidan Bryan(shoulder injury) dropped to the bench along with Conor White from the starting line up with Havant & Waterlooville Academy new signings Owen Claydon(17yo) and Callum Theobald(16yo) coming in. Ewan Cranwell and Fin Phillips also returned on the bench.
The match started with fine rain blowing from right to left down the pitch into the face of the home keeper in the first half. A drop kick from Cowes keeper Ed Hatt nearly embarrassed Rory Anderson in the home goal in the very first minute as the ball bounced over him near the edge of his box heading towards his goal, but went wide of his left hand post to save his blushes. John McKie earned himself the first yellow card of the game in front of the dugouts. The reaction of the home bench, in particular their Manager was a total disgrace with a certain swear word being said several times. Hopefully the League representative took note!! Craig Insley then conceded a soft free kick in the 21st minute from which BRADLEY MAGOOKIN sent the ball around the wall into the top right corner of Ed Hatt’s goal to give the home side the lead. Shortly after Michael Byrne clearly led with his elbow into the back of Harry Dye again right in front of the dugouts and was lucky to escape without a card or a talking to. Surprisingly the home Manager did not have a word to say about this!!!! Cowes debutant, midfielder Owen Claydon then sent a testing ball across the edge of the box trying to pick out John McKie, but Michael Byrne got a vital touch to send the ball for a corner. Owen Claydon was starting to enjoy himself in the centre of midfield as he again played a great ball through to John McKie whose early shot had Rory Anderson scrambling to push the ball away for a corner from which Craig Insley headed wide of the back post. The Yachtsmen were beginning to look dangerous on the break and in the 41st minute a crossfield ball found Jimmy Wykes who as he made his way towards goal was tripped by right back Ricky Bull, penalty, JOHN McKIE stepped up to send Rory Anderson the wrong way and equalise for the Island side. Shortly before the break Cowes could have taken the lead when Jimmy Wykes and John McKie broke with pace, but the latter sent his effort wide of goal as the scores remained level at half time.
H-t 1 – 1
Hamble Club made a change at the start of the second half with Daniel Cox replacing Matthew Troon (I think). Nine minutes into the half a Gareth Bricknell corner was cleared back to him but his shot hit the post and was cleared. Ed Hatts’ quick clearance again saw John McKie with the chance to give Cowes the lead , but he clipped the ball over their keeper but agonisingly wide of the goal. Home teams Alex Blake was then booked for a challenge from behind on Harry Dye before Charlie Wagstaffe replaced Brad Magookin for Hamble(58 mins) then Michael McEnery came on for Connor Furmidge for Cowes Sports(63 mins). Gareth Bricknell’s free kick saw Harry Dye head to Owen Claydon who in turn returned the ball to Harry Dye who fired over the bar. Home sides Jack McCarthy was then taken off, River Smith coming on before Coby Wilson earned himself a yellow card. In the 67th minute Alex Blake took a blatant dive just outside the Cowes area to the right, the Ref bought it and awarded a free kick. NICHOLAS WATTS saw his shot take a wicked deflection which wrong footed keeper Ed Hatt who could do nothing as the ball found the left corner of the Cowes net to restore the home lead. Within minutes Cowes saw Michael McEnery’s header cleared off the line before they had an even better chance to again equalise when in the 75th minute the Referee adjudged that Michael McEnery had been fouled from behind inside the home box. However this time home stopper Rory Anderson guessed correctly as he saved a poor spot kick from John McKie. Cowes replaced Jimmy Wykes with Finnley Phillips, but in the 79th minute Cowes were caught cold as Nick Watts cross found COBY WILSON at the back post to half volley the ball past Ed Hatt into the goal for a 3 – 1 lead. A couple of chances in quick succession from the away side saw Owen Claydons 28 yard shot pushed away for a corner before Michael McEnery should have scored but only lifted the ball into the keepers chest. A second goal did come for the Islanders in the 92nd minute when JOHN McKIE netted from inside the box, but their was not enough time left for another chance as the home side just managed to hold on.
FOOTNOTE:-
With Havant & Waterlooville ‘s Conference South match called off Manager and former Cowes player Lee Bradbury and Assistant Shaun Gale attended the game to check on the performance of his Academy lads on their Yachtsmen’s debut. Owen Claydon looked comfortable in centre midfield and could play an important part in the remainder of the season. Callum Theobald initially looked very nervous at right back, he is a centre half, but grew in confidence as the game progressed and looked a lot better late on.
TEAMS:-
COWES SPORTS – Ed Hatt, Callum Theobald, Gareth Bricknell Bkd, Max Draper, Craig Insley (c), Callum Chase, John McKie Bkd, Owen Claydon, Connor Furmidge(replaced by Michael McEnery 63), Harry Dye (replaced by Ewan Cranwell 68), James Wykes(replaced by Finnley Phillips 77) Subs not Used; Conor White + Dave Thurman g/k
HAMBLE CLUB:- Rory Anderson, Ricky Bull Bkd, Matthew Troon(replaced by Daniel Cox 46), Alex Blake Bkd, Michael Byrne, Prince McLean (c), Nicholas Watts, Bradley Magookin(replaced by Charlie Wagstaffe 60), Barry Mason, Jack McCarthy(replaced by River Smith 64), Coby Wilson Bkd, Subs not Used; Ben Kempston + Liam Cook g/k