Match Report – WLC COWES SPORTS v Totton & Eling 03-12-19

Tuesday December 3rd  SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE(WESSEX) League Cup 3rd Round

COWES SPORTS 1(0)  TOTTON & ELING 4(1)

Referee:- TOM BERRY  Assistants; Alistair Taylor + Andy Jones

DISAPPOINTING EXIT FROM LEAGUE CUP FOR YACHTSMEN

Finally Cowes Sports got to entertain Wessex One strugglers  Totton & Eling in this League Cup 3rd round tie with a place in the 1/4 Finals at stake.

Manager, Max Draper, made several changes to the side that impressed at Fleet a few days earlier. Dominic Sexton, Jacob Jarvis and Ashley Brett were injured whilst Tom Dye was rested whilst Ed Hatt was also left out. Fraser Law started in goal, Aidan Bryan returned as did Michael McEnery started. Ben Holdsworth and left back Jamie Barratt(debut) as began whilst James Cheek and Darren Williams joined Aiden White, Ben Snow and Ed Hatt warmed the bench.

Team:-

Fraser Law, Conor White, Jamie Barratt, Mitchell Ricketts, Morgan Perrin, Aidan Bryan (c), Scott McFarlane, Ben Holdsworth, Ji Nash, Michael McEnery, James Wykes

Subs:- Darren Williams, James Cheek, Aiden White, Ben Snow, Ed Hatt g/k

The Yachtsmen came into this game of the back of two very good away performances at Amesbury and Fleet so were looking to progress in this competition. James Wykes took just five minutes to carve open he visitors defence as he broke through from his own half but unfortunately sent his shot wide of goal. Totton & Eling were getting a lot of joy down the Cowes left and on 13 minutes James Matthews latched onto a ball over the top, but fired wide, a warning for the home side. A 17th minute free kick saw John Macauley head the ball to James Matthews but this time his shot was straight at young Fraser Law. Ben Holdsworth then nearly got lucky when a Totton defenders clearance hit the Cowes player and headed towards goal, but Oliver Eyres was alert to prevent the ball from crossing the goal line. James Matthews was giving debutant Jamie Barratt a torrid time and again got the better of the Cowes youngster but Fraser Law got down well to push the ball away for a corner. Five minutes before the break the visitors finally took the lead the fully deserved when a corner from the right was only cleared to Dylan Gain who saw his shot come back of the crossbar but a second effort was diverted into his own net by MITCHELL RICKETTS. So Totton & Eling went into the interval one up.

Six minutes into the second half Cowes lost possession on the edge of the Totton box, the visitors broke quickly to score a second goal through JOHN MACAULEY. Before the restart Aiden White replaced Jamie Barratt but further joy for Totton & Eling as another break saw Fraser Law block the first shot, but the rebound fell too DANIEL SPENCER who fired into the empty net. A disjointed Cowes side tried to find a way back into the tie as they sent on Darren Williams in place of Conor White. They were given that opportunity in the 66th minute when James Wykes ran from the half way line, past three defenders, into the box before being tripped by Ryan Lomax, penalty!! Referee Tom Berry agreed and pointed to the spot. James Wykes took on the responsibility, but his spot kick was well saved by Oliver Eyres who also blocked the rebound. James Cheek replaced Michael McEnery for his senior debut. Aiden White sent in a cross from the left only for James Wykes to fire over the bar. the game was settled on 77 minutes when a poor pass across the edge of the Cowes area found JAMES MATTHEWS who despatched the ball past Fraser Law for number four. James Wykes then saw his goal bound effort superbly tipped over the bar by Oliver Eyres, from the resulting corner Ben Holdsworth saw his header cleared off the line. Cowes finally looked like they were up for the fight and in the 82nd minute a 22 yard effort from the right edge of the box from substitute AIDEN WHITE nest5led in the left corner of the visitors goal, unfortunately too little too late. A minute later Ben Holdsworth tested the visitors keeper who responded to tip the ball over the bar. Their sub then hit the Cowes post before Scott McFarlane had a header saved as Cowes bowed out of the League Cup with a poor display that will be a wake up call to the new Management team. Lets hope the return of some senior players we can show a bit more fight against Solent University next up at Westwood.