Saturday December 4th The HARWOODS Isle of Wight Division 1
COWES SPORTS RESERVES 3 (2) v 3 (1) NORTHWOOD ST JOHNS
played at Westwood Park Kick Off – 14:00 Referee – Steven Raybould
Team:- COWES SPORTS RESERVES – Jamie LININGTON, Tommy JACKSON, Jacob JARVIS, Joseph ADAMS, Ashley BRETT, Dominic SEXTON, Christopher ELLIOTT, Rafferty BOYD-KERR, Daniel PEARSON, Gareth BRICKNELL (c), Joshua NEALE
Subs:- Mitchell COX, Caleb NEALE, Jason INCE
A quick start from the Yachtsmen’s second string as a thunderous shot from skipper Gareth Bricknell in the third minute smashed off the visiting keeper’s right hand post and away to safety. It was not long though before the Yachtsmen took the lead with a bizarre goal. JACOB JARVIS received the ball near the left touch line and sent in a cross towards the back post, the ball drifted over the Northwood keeper and went in off the left hand post. More joy for Cowes as they doubled their lead with just ten minutes on the clock. Cowes’ first attempt at goal was blocked but CHRISTOPHER ELLIOTT was on hand to calmly blast the ball into the bottom left corner of the goal. Thoughts of the 6 – 1 victory at the start of the season came flooding back to the home fans. Credit though to Northwood who were determined to fight back and make a game of it and Jamie Linington was forced to block twice in the 13th minute. Buoyed by those chances the visitors did cut the deficit on 19 minutes when TOBY COUSINS angled shot beat Jamie Linington. A couple of minutes later and Cowes’ Gareth Bricknell made his way into the left edge of the Northwood penalty area only to be taken out by the keeper, surely a stonewall penalty?? No !! With the Referee nearer to the half way line he waved away Cowes’ appeals. If he thought it was a dive why was the Cowes skipper not booked??? Cowes continued to press forward and Gareth Bricknell saw his volley superbly pushed over the bar by Joe White in the Northwood goal. H-t 2 – 1
Northwood started the second half well and were rewarded with an equaliser in the 54th minute when ARTHUR BALCHIN netted. On 58 minutes Cowes were awarded an indirect free kick which Gareth Bricknell laid off to Rafferty Boyd-Kerr who fired just over the bar. In the 65th minute the home side were given the chance to retake the lead when Gareth Bricknell was again upended in their box. On his 250th appearance for Cowes Sports, ASHLEY BRETT restored the home sides lead. Minutes later and sub Caleb Neale saw his shot pushed away by their keeper. A lot of huff and puff from both teams but no real chances created. Then in injury time Cowes failed to defend positively and allowed a cross into the box from the right which TOBY COUSINS volleyed past Jamie Linington to level the scores at 3 – 3.
Two points dropped by the Reserves but they only have themselves to blame after gaining such a good advantage and then conceding such a late equaliser but credit to Northwood who never gave up and got their reward.