Tuesday September 3rd – Harwoods IW League Div 1
COWES SPORTS RESERVES 3(1) BEMBRIDGE 0(0)
played at Westwood Park Referee – KEYSON COLEBROOK
RESERVES SECURE THE POINTS AGAINST BEMBRIDGE
Following the resignation of Manager Darren Arnold and Kevin Broderick, Max Draper has been appointed Player/Manager. He will be assisted by fellow player James Wright along with Matt Ricketts with Roger Gould remaining as their Assistant referee.
After his first game in charge ended with a bad defeat at Ryde Saints, Max Draper’s first home game saw them welcome Bembridge to Westwood Park who included former Yachtsman Dexter Malin and George Woodburn in their squad. Cowes Reserves made four changes from the previous starting line up – Joe McCormack, Isaac Cruise, Ben Snow and Luke Phillips came into the starting XI. Daniel Pearson and Samuel Kirby dropped to the bench where they were joined by Jason Ince whilst James Wright and Wilf Armfield missed out.
Team:-
Joe McCormack, Max Coshell (c), Isaac Cruise, Mitchell Ricketts, Max Draper, Aiden White, Ben Snow, Aedan Coode, Aarun Ince, Darren Williams, Luke Phillips, Subs; Samuel Kirby, Daniel Pearson, Jason Ince.
Having suffered a 3 – 5 against Bembridge just 17 days ago and two 1 5 loses since, it was with baited breath that Cowes came into this return fixture. In fact both teams started the game rather slowly as they sussed each other out. Neither keeper were made to work in the first half an hour as most of the play was centred in the middle of the parkas defences ruled. However this all changed for the final quarter of an hour of the first half. The first real chance of the game fell to the home side on the half hour when Darren Williams rolled the ball to Aedan Coode on the right side of the Bembridge area, he cut inside his marker, saw his shot beat the keeper only for a defender to clear the ball of the goal line. Samuel Kirby replaced Luke Phillips on 35 minutes before several chances were created by the home side in the final six minutes of the half. In the 39th minute a ball down the left by Aarun Ince found full back Isaac Cruise steaming forward. His cross into the centre picked out Sam Kirby but he was unable to get his shot on target. A minute later Aarun Ince’s cross found the head of Aedan Coode, but their keeper done well to block but only to Darren Williams whose shot was saved. Forty first minute and another chance went a begging as Sam Kirby sent a cross from the right over all to the far post where Aarun Ince smashed a volley against the keeper’s right hand post. Were Cowes going to rue these missed chances? No as a minute before the break the breakthrough finally came when a long pass from Darren Williams sent AARUN INCE racing towards goal, he kept calm to roll the ball past the visitors keeper into the left side of the goal, no more than the young Cowes side deserved.
Cowes started the second half on the front foot and were closing down Bembridge at every opportunity with everyone confident on the ball and playing for each other. Aiden White in particular looked very good in midfield whilst the defence as a whole denied the visitors any clear cut chances to test Joe McCormack in the Cowes goal. Just past the hour mark Daniel Pearson came on for Aedan Coode. In the 68th minute the young Yachtsmen doubled their advantage as Aiden White sent a long pass forward which DARREN WILLIAMS latched onto before sending the ball low past the advancing keeper into the empty net. Substitute Dan Pearson then tried his luck from the left edge of the box but his effort flew wide of the left hand post. Jason Ince replaced Darren Williams who had led the line superbly for the final 12 minutes before Luke Phillips came of for the impressive Aarun Ince. Within a minute the victory was secured as a long ball 0ut of defence caught the Bembridge defence square and LUKE PHILLIPS ran through to tuck the ball under their keeper for number three. A great result for the new Management team but also a great all round performance and certainly a pleasure to watch.
Well done lads, now to keep it going with a tough game away to Brading Town to follow.