Attendance – 86
For their first away game of the season, Ian Potts, deputising for the absent Steve Hunt, kept the same starting eleven that did so well on Saturday, but they went behind in the third minute, when we lost possession in midfield and GARY AUSTIN ran through to fire past Ed Hatt.
Undeterred, the Yachtsmen hit back four minutes later as JOHN MCKIE fired in a shot beyond the Fareham keeper from the edge of the box to level things up.
The home side were looking very dangerous going forward and Ed Hatt had to parry another goal-bound effort for a corner. However, after twenty-one minutes EWAN CRANWELL picked up the ball on the edge of the box and his speculative shot deceived the Fareham keeper and found the top corner to give Cowes the lead.
The home side continued to enjoy most of the possession and had a strong penalty claim refused by the referee.
Jimmy Wykes then got away down the left but his cross was intercepted and the chance was gone.
Into the second half and Jared Cousins ran on to a through ball, before nicking it past the advancing keeper. Just before the ball ran out for a goal-kick, Jared managed to get a shot in that ran across the unguarded net and bounced out off of the far post.
More pressure from the home side resulted in a Callum Chase goal-line clearance and an Ed Hatt save with his feet, then a headed effort was ruled out by the linesman’s flag.
Fareham were getting very frustrated as the Cowes defence continued to keep them out and they received a couple of yellow cards for reckless challenges.
On the hour mark, Ji Nash just failed to control a Fin Phillips ball beyond the home back line and then a John McKie back-heel set up Conor White, whose cross was deflected for a corner.
With time running out, Cowes threatened to increase their lead as Connor Furmidge headed wide at the far post and John McKie had two late chances, the first being saved and the second deflected wide.
Having already been booked, went in for a rash, injury-time challenge out on the touch-line and received a second yellow followed by the inevitable red, but the Yachtsmen managed to see out the remaining minutes for a battling, well deserved victory and a first League win on the mainland since March 2017.
Cowes Sports: Ed Hatt, Conor White, Jimmy Wykes, Callum Chase, Aidan Bryan, Dominic Sexton, John McKie, Ewan Cranwell, Jared Cousins, Fin Phillips, Ji Nash.
Used subs: Gareth Bricknell (Jared Cousins), Connor Furmidge (Ji Nash).
Unused subs: Jez conway, Ben Gearing, Ryan Gardner.