Match report: Sholing v Cowes Sports

Attendance:-  69

MATCH OFFICIALS: Referee – JACOB WRIGHT Assistants – Dominic Cunliffe + James Furrlong

The penultimate League fixture took the Yachtsmen across the Solent to The Universal Stadium, home of third placed Sholing where our results have very rarely been positive.

Due to injuries and non availability several changes were enforced with the bench being probably the youngest ever known at Cowes Sports, taking out of course Dave Thurman who is nearly as old as the other four put together!!

To their credit Cowes started brightly and in the 8th minute skipper John McKie led by example, running 60 yards past several home players before firing over the bar. Seventeen minutes in and Jimmy Wykes finds Connor Furmidge with a ball from defence. The Cowes forward, some 40 yards from goal beats two home defenders before shooting which Ryan Gosney lets slip underneath his body but somehow manages to get enough of a touch on the ball to send it wide of the goal. A couple of minutes later and Jack Broomfield sends a 40 yard pass into the path of Connor Furmidge but his shot flies wide of target as Cowes continue to press. Sholing finally come to the party as a dipping 35 yard effort is tipped over the crossbar by Cowes custodian Ed Hatt. Gareth Bricknell the says “ Whatever John McKie can do so can I” as he storms forward from left back before seeing his shot take a deflection wide for a corner. A promising first half for Steve Hunts Yachtsmen, But had their chance gone??

H-t 0 – 0 

Ten minutes into the second half and Cowes make their first change with Callum Watkins replacing Connor Furmidge. Sholing begin to take control of the match, Frazer McLean sees his header from 8yards superbly saved by Ed Hatt. The home side pressed forward but could not find a way past the stubborn Cowes back line who were all fighting the cause. However with barely two minutes left on the clock the home teams pressure finally paid off as DANIEL MILLER netted the winner to leave the Yachtsmen once again facing an away day defeat. Certainly a result their performance did not deserve which was even admitted by the home side who tweeted that the spirit that Cowes had shown deserved a point from the game.

TEAMS:-

COWES SPORTS – Ed Hatt, James Wykes, Gareth Bricknell, Charlie Allen, Jez Conway, James Wright(replaced by Max Coshell 90), John McKie (c), Jack Broomfield, Connor Furmidge(replaced by Callum Watkins 64), Daniel Verstraeten, Leigh Mackenzie, Used Sub: Daniel Pearson, Unused Subs; Louis Blackmore + Dave Thurman g/k

SHOLING – Ryan Gosney, T J Cuthbertson, Marvin McLean (c), Pete Castle, Daniel Miller, Kevin Brewster, Marlon Mason, Frazer McLean, Dan Mason, Lee Wort, James Bulpitt, Used Subs: Jake Hoole, Owen Roundell, Alex Sawyer, Unused Subs;  Jack Smith, Owen Royl.