ANDOVER NEW STREET 3 – 2 COWES SPORTS

Dave Thurman replaced the injured Chris Norris in goal in the only change to the Cowes starting XI in the last three games.

Cowes started brightly, Dom Burbidge shooting just wide and Darren Williams heading wide of goal in the early exchanges, both chances being set up by Jamie Dyer.

The Islanders then hit the post through Mikey Jones in the 22nd minute, his second effort being smothered by Dave Tasker in the home goal. Just three minutes later Cowes fell behind having failed three times to clear the danger, Gregory NIXON blasted past Dave Thurman for an undeserved lead.

Gareth Bricknell saw his goal-bound effort blocked whilst Tasker got down low to his right to save from Dom Burbidge as the Yachtsmen looked for an equaliser. Quick thinking by Gareth Bricknell from a free kick released Mikey Jones who slotted the ball past Tasker for what was thought to be the equaliser, but, much to Cowes’ disbelief and anger, referee Byfield pulled it back so he could speak to the defender who had committed the foul.

Dave Tasker twice denied Darren Williams just before half time with excellent saves to keep his side ahead at the break.

Andover doubled their lead two minutes into the second half when a long hopeful punt forward was not dealt with by the Cowes defence and Liam EDWARDS fired home. Nixon nearly added a third when he hit the crossbar, before the otherwise excellent home keeper was at fault on the hour as he allowed Darren WILLIAMS’ 22 yard shot to bounce over him and into the goal.

New Street hit back with a third goal in the 70th minute as Cowes defenders gave up the chase to allow Gregory NIXON to score what proved to be the decisive goal.  Mikey JONES prodded home a Dom Burbidge cross after a defender had failed to clear to set up a tense final ten minutes.  Andover twice hit the frame of the Cowes goal as they looked to grab a point from the match which they could have done as the last chance of the game fell to Mikey Jones who stabbed the ball inches wide of the home goal, although others were in a better position to score.

Team:- D. Thurman, J. Dyer, A. Watson, S. Yelland, A. Bryan, A. Brett, M. Jones, T. Dye, D. Burbidge, D. Williams, G. Bricknell capt

Subs; M. Herbert, G. Bodrell

SHAFTESBURY 0 V 2 COWES SPORTS

Cowes Sports made the long journey to second bottom Shaftesbury with almost a full squad available, only Craig Insley missing.  For the first time this season manager Steve Taylor named the same team for consecutive matches.

For the first twenty minutes both sides were trying to get the upperhand in the match, both sets of strikers causing a few problems for their opposing defence without threatening either keeper.

It was the Islanders who started to take control of the match and were duly rewarded in the 28th minute when Tom Dye’s through ball found Dom BURBIDGE who cleverly beat his marker before clipping the ball over the home keeper, Bobby Stopps, into the right corner of the goal giving Cowes the lead they deserved.   The Yachtsmen threatened to increase their advantage before the interval as first Darren Williams’ cross was headed into the hands of the home keeper by Cowes skipper, Gareth Bricknell, who then saw a low drive from 22 yards miss the target by inches as Shaftesbury were happy to only be one behind at half tiime.

It only took Cowes five minutes of the second half before adding a second goal as a superb thirty yard right to left crossfield ball from Mikey Jones picked out Gareth Bricknell who squared the ball to the edge of the area where Dom BURBIDGE looked like he was going to pass it onto Mikey Jones wide on the right.  However within a flash he turned and fired it into the bottom left corner of the goal to double the lead.

The home side finally had a shot on goal in the 55th minute but keeper Chris Norris saved with ease, minutes later however he was beaten but right back Jamie Dyer cleared off the line.  He then popped up at the other end to test the home keeper Bobby Stopps who smothered his shot at the near post. Shaftesbury thought they were back in the match with five minutes left as a home forward tucked the under the diving Chris Norris and into the goal, unfortunately for them the “offside” flag was raised so it did not count.

The final ten minutes or so were quite nervous for the visitors as they came under a lot of pressure, but with Sam Yelland in particular in outstanding form there was no way through.  Cowes then broke in injury time and the referee, Tony Foster, who had a excellent game, adjudged that Tom Dye had been fouled in trying to get a shot at goal so up stepped Gareth Bricknell to take the spot kick only to see Bobby Stopps pull off a tremendous save to deny the Cowes skipper.

Team:- C. Norris, J. Dyer, A. Watson, S. Yelland, A. Bryan, A. Brett, M. Jones, T. Dye, D. Burbidge, D. Williams, G. Bricknell capt, subs; M. Herbert, C.Thomas, C. Holmes

Cowes Sports 1 v Verwood Town 1

This mid-table clash ended all square after The Yachtsmen recovered from the shock of conceding a third minute goal.

As keeper Chris Norris attempted to smother a cross, wide of the far post, a Verwood striker got there first to squeeze his shot home from a seemingly impossible angle.

Norris then had to be alert to keep out another goalbound effort while at the other end, Darren Williams sent a twenty-yarder straight at the Verwood keeper and Dominic Burbidge screwed a shot over following good work down the left by Gareth Bricknell.

After thirty-five minutes, Jamie Dyer worked his way down the right and crossed to the edge of the box where Bricknell pounced on the ball before firing a shot wide of the keeper and in off the post for the equaliser.

Just before the break, Darren Williams sent Dominic Burbidge through on goal, but his shot was well blocked by the visitors’ keeper.

On the hour, Andy Watson and Darren Williams combined to set up Bricknell again but this time his shot sailed narrowly over, then substitute Craig Thomas fired over following good work by Dominic Burbidge and Mikey Jones.

In the last minute a back pass caught the Verwood keeper in two minds whether to gather to gather the ball or not and in the end he was relieved to see it slip narrowly past the post.

Cowes Sports :C. Norris, J. Dyer, A. Watson, A. Bryan, S. Yelland, A. Brett, T. Dye, M. Jones, D. Burbidge, D. Williams, G. Bricknell.

Substitues: C. Thomas, M. Herbert, C. Holmes, C. Insley, J. Winchcombe.

HYTHE & DIBDEN 8 – 2 COWES SPORTS

An under strength Cowes side had no answers to the power of Hythe & Dibden as they slumped to one of their heaviest defeats since joining the Wessex League.

A first minute free kick into the Cowes area was not cleared, but fell nicely to Dan STRANGE who fired past Chris Norris from 16 yards to give the home side a dream start. It could have been worse for the Islanders as Craig Vigar thundered a header against the Cowes crossbar two minutes later.

Cowes finally made headway towards the home goal but Ashley Brett’s volley cleared the crossbar before some excellent football down the right ended with skipper Gareth Bricknell heading wide.

Hythe again struck the crossbar in the 12th min when Vigar again met a corner with a powerful header. However, Cowes should have levelled in the 26th minute when Sam Yelland’s free kick was flicked on by Darren Williams leaving Gareth Bricknell with only the keeper to beat, but somehow he managed to poke the ball wide of the target. They did equalise a minute later when Dom Burbidge got on the end of a long clearance from Chris Norris only to be upended by keeper Willshire in the box and was lucky to only receive a yellow card. Gareth BRICKNELL calmly slotted home the spot kick.

The Boatmen retook the lead on 33 mins when an innocuous ball forward was headed past keeper Chris Norris by debutant Craig HOLMES. Minutes later Cowes thought they had again levelled when the pacy Dom Burbidge hassled Craig Vigar, won the ball, beat the keeper and under pressure from right back Max Fouracre stab the ball into the empty net, only to have the young Ref, Daren Downs, harshly adjudge that Dom had fouled the right back, for which he also got a yellow card.

The Yachtsmen did find a second equaliser (40) when Ashley BRETT headed home a Gareth Bricknell free kick, but straight from the restart Andy LONSDALE found a way through the Cowes defence to shoot the home side back into the lead, which they increased in first half injury time when Charlie Allen brought down their player and Andrew LONSDALE slotted home the resulting penalty.

Craig Thomas replaced Charlie Allen at half time but the reshuffle had little effect as The Boatmen added a fifth(57), when Andrew LONSDALE completed his hat trick, before Sam CORTER(59) scored a sixth. Cowes were now totally demoralised and Hythe took full advantage as Andrew LONSDALE(74) scored number seven, then Sam CORTER completed the rout with an eighth goal eight minutes from the end.

Team:- C. Norris, C. Allen, A. Watson, C. Holmes, S. Yelland, M. Draper, A. Brett, M. Herbert, D. Burbidge, D. Williams, G. Bricknell capt

Subs; C. Thomas, G. Bodrell, M. Jones. J. Winchcombe not used.

Cowes Sports 1 v Horndean 3

The Yachtsmen were unable to build on their early lead at Westwood on Saturday and were pegged back by a hard working Horndean side who came back to take the points.

As early as the third minute, Jamie Dyer crossed from the right but the Horndean keeper just managed to tip Gareth Bricknell’s close-range effort round the post.

Eight minutes later Cowes took the lead, when Dominic Burbidge latched on to Gareth Bricknell’s through ball and nicked the ball past the advancing keeper into the net.

Ashley Brett should have increased the lead, but fired over from six yards from a Darren Williams knock-down.

On twenty-seven minutes Alex Shepherd equalised for the visitors with a close-range header, though there was a suspicion of off-side when the ball was crossed in.

After the break, Cowes pressed for a second goal and Tom Dye was harshly booked for diving as he went down under a challenge inside the box.  Darren Williams almost broke the deadlock on the hour, but his deflected shot was palmed round the post by the Horndean keeper.

With fifteen minutes left, the visitors broke away to take the lead. Chris Norris blocked the first effort, but Graeme Gillman followed up to score.

With seven minutes left, Tom Dye gave the ball away in midfield and was punished as substitute Harry Potter ghosted through to slot in his side’s third goal.

After their recent revival in fortunes, the Yachtsmen were brought back down to earth by the impressive visitors, who were worthy winners.

Cowes Sports: C. Norris, M. Herbert, K. But, S. Yelland, A. Watson, A. Brett, T. Dye, J. Dyer, D. Burbidge, D. Williams, G. Bricknell.

Substitutes: C. Thomas, C. Allen, G. Bodrell, J. Winchcombe.

UNITED SERVICES PORTSMOUTH 0 – 2 COWES SPORTS

Having already beaten Cowes Sports twice so far this season, 4-2 in the League match at Westwood Park in August, and 1-0 in the Wessex League Cup in September also at Westwood Park, United Services Portsmouth went into this match confident of claiming a hat trick of victories over their Island visitors, despite losing their last game at home to League leaders Downton three days earlier.

The Yachtsmen travelled to Portsmouth without the services of Craig Insley, Lee Davies and Charlie Allen who were all injured. This meant Mitch Herbert dropped to right back, Kurt Butt came in at left back and Jamie Dyer slotted into right midfield. Cowes also gave a debut from the bench to Gavin Bodrell who has scored five goals for the Reserves in recent games.

Cowes also were confident having won their previous three matches.

The Islanders could not have made a better start to the match as, with just two minutes on the clock, Dominic Burbidge dispossessed a defender on the edge of the centre circle, then rolled the ball into the path of skipper Gareth BRICKNELL, who smashed it past keeper Houkes into the net to stun the home side.

Darren Williams’ clever lay off sent Dom Burbidge to the bye-line who sent in an inviting cross, but there was no Cowes player in the box to take advantage.

The Services had to wait until the 21st minute to have their fist scoring chance when a free kick was bent around the outside of the Cowes wall, but keeper Chris Norris got his finger tips to the ball to push it against the post.

Mitch Herbert then tested Houkes in the home goal following good build up play from Darren Williams and Ashley Brett, before a clash of heads saw both sides temporarily down to ten men as Aidan Bryan had to have a bandage over a cut just above the eye, whilst for the home side, Dale Holmes, had to go to hospital for stitches to a gash at the back of his head. He was replaced by Peter Lines. Thankfully Bryan returned to the frey for Cowes.

Just before half time an angled shot from Lines was smartly blocked at the foot of the post by Norris whilst at the other end Darren Williams headed wide for Cowes.

US Pompey started the second half with manager Bob Brady’s words still ringing in their ears. They put Cowes under at lot of pressure without really threatening to equalise as the outstanding Aidan Bryan, Sam Yelland, Mitch Herbert and Kurt Butt defended as though their lives depended upon it. They were ably supported by the midfield, in particular Tom Dye, who did everything simple to help out.

In the 55th minute however, a long punt forward from keeper Houkes was misjudged by Yelland, but Cowes’ Chris Norris saved well, Kurt Butt lost possession of the rebound and Norris again saved well at his near post to keep the lead intact.

Those saves proved vital as on the hour mark a speculative shot from 35 yards from Ashley Brett was too hot to handle for the home keeper who could only parry the ball into the path of Darren WILLIAMS who hit the ball into the ground and bounced it over Houkes and into the goal sending the travelling fans (10 of us) dancing in the stand.

Although Pompey saw a lot of the ball throughout the remaining half an hour, Cowes soaked it up with relative ease and in the final couple of minutes Tom Dye went close with a curling shot and sub Gavin Bodrell stung the keeper’s hands with a rasping shot from 16 yards that he could only turn for a corner, as Cowes held on to record their fourth consecutive win and move them up to ninth in the table.

Team:- C. Norris, M. Herbert, K. Butt, A. Bryan, S. Yelland, A. Brett, T. Dye, G. Bricknell capt, D. Burbidge, D. Williams, J. Dyer

Subs; C. Thomas, G. Bodrell, M. Jones – not used, J. Winchcombe, J. Brownrigg

TADLEY CALLEVA 2 – 6 COWES SPORTS

Cowes paid their first ever visit to Tadley with Craig Insley, Dan Ross, Brendan Arnold and Mikey Jones all missing, but Jamie Dyer made a welcome return after suspension and an ankle injury.

With kick off delayed half an hour due to travel problems for Cowes, both sides took time to settle.

Quite a strong wind blew down the pitch in Tadleys favour in the first period, however it was Cowes who had the first chance of the match when Darren Williams headed a Lee Davies cross wide. The home side responded but also failed to hit target. Tom Dye’s lofted volley into the area saw Ashley Brett and Darren Williams both fail to connect.

Tadley Calleva took the lead from a 31st minute penalty after Aidan Bryan had handled in the box, Ben DILLON’S spot kick sending keeper Chris Norris the wrong way.

The Yachtsmen hit back and were again on level terms in the 34th minute when Dominic BURBIDGE blasted home an angled shot from six yards as the teams went in at half time all square.

The impressive Lee Davies had to be replaced early in the second half, following an ankle injury by Craig Thomas who, along with the lively Dom Burbidge, helped set up skipper Gareth Bricknell whose shot cannoned off the outside of the post. Further chances for Dom Burbidge, Craig Thomas, Gareth Bricknell and Ashley Brett were all squandered whilst Tadley’s front men kept the Cowes’ defence on their toes.

Cowes’ pressure finally paid off with twenty minutes to go when Craig Thomas’s touch released Dominic BURBIDGE who fired across the home keeper and into the right side of the Tadley net. Tom Dye’s 75th minute corner was met with a bullet header from twelve yards by Ashley BRETT to extend the Islanders lead.

Skipper Gareth Bricknell then set up Dom Burbidge but his shot was well saved. Tadley’s sub then produced a superb left foot cross which found the head off Ben DILLON to head home and bring the home side back into the game.

However Cowes responded with three unanswered goals in five minutes as Ashley BRETT’S exquisit 20 yard lob(84), Craig THOMAS’S neat finish(86) after being set up by Ashley Brett, and finally Dominic BURBIDGE completing his hat trick(89) with a low right foot shot resulted in a comfortable win for the Island side.

Team:- C. Norris, C. Allen, L. Davies, S. Yelland, A. Bryan, A. Brett, T. Dye, M. Herbert, D. Burbidge, D. Williams, G. Bricknell

Subs; C. Thomas, J. Dyer, J. Winchcombe(not used)