Match report: Bashley v Cowes Sports

Attendance:- 100

MATCH OFFICIALS: Referee – CONNOR GATES

Assistants – William Jeffery + Paul Barber

Following a couple of postponements the Yachtsmen were back in action with a mid week trip to the New Forest where they took on Bashley.

The game got underway in foggy conditions but this did not hamper the Islanders as they made a great start to the game. With just three minutes on the clock a superb Connor Furmidge strike from outside the box saw home stopper Mike Edgar produce the first of several fantastic saves at the expense of a corner, from which Jez Conway was tripped in the box by a home defender and JOHN MCKIE stepped up to send their keeper the wrong way to give the visitors the lead. Confidence now high Cowes pushed forward in search of a second, a couple of shots from Connor Furmidge not causing too much panic for the home side, sixteen year old Callum Watkins was impressing for Cowes on his full debut whilst John McKie was also lively. Ed Hatt was also alert when Bashley broke and pushed one shot over the bar. More joy for Cowes in the 37th minute when Conor White and John McKie combined down the right, the former’s deep cross was played back into the danger area by Connor Furmidge and CALLUM WATKINS downward header beat the home keeper to double Cowes’ advantage. Five minutes before the break and Harry Dye should of added a third goal but from six yards out sent his header wide of the goal. Cowes were made too pay for that miss as Bashley went up the other end and scored when a LEWIS ROSS effort found the bottom corner of the Cowes goal. Worse for Cowes as on the stroke of half time DANIEL MUNDAY scored the equaliser from close range. The drama did not stop there, seconds before the half time whistle a nasty challenge on Conor White resulted in Samuel Jackson being shown a red card.

H-t 2 – 2

Although some home fans thought the challenge on Conor White did not deserve a red card, the Cowes full back failed to appear for the second half, James Wykes replacing him. Twelve minutes into the second half CONNOR WHITELEY broke through the Cowes defence before beating Ed Hatt to give the home side the lead for the first time in the game. Cowes tried to get themselves back into the game, the best chance coming with 20 minutes left as John McKie, 1 on 1 with their keeper sees the Bashley man come out on top but the loose ball fell to Connor Furmidge who from 12 yards out and an open goal sent the ball wide. Further chances came and went leaving ten man Bashley as winners by the odd goal in five.
Another three valuable points thrown away from a winning position as things begin too tighten up near the bottom of the table. It looks like Petersfield Town are down – 12 points from 34 games, but who will join them??? Amesbury Town – 19 points from 29 games, Newport IW – 19 points from 30 games or Cowes Sports 28 points from 31 games.

TEAMS:-
COWES SPORTS – Ed Hatt, Conor White (replaced by James Wykes 46), Jez Conway, Aidan Bryan (c) Bkd, Nathan Lewis, Calum Chase , John McKie, Harry Dye(replaced by Gareth Bricknell 63), Connor Furmidge, Callum Watkins, Jason Ince Sub not used; Dave Thurman g/k

BASHLEY – Mike Edgar, Dan Thompson(replaced by Rhys Owen), Lewis Aimson, Bradley Strickland(replaced by Shaun Wright),Tony Rolls, Bradley Morris (c), Samuel Jackson S/O, Harrison White, Daniel Munday(replaced by George Pooley), Conor Whiteley, Lewis Ross,