The reserves played Newchurch in this IOWDFA Div 1 game. This game was the start of a busy seven days for the reserves, with a possible four games to be played (dependant on the result of the Memorial Cup game being played 07/04/11).  The lads started the game in a positive fashion, they created several good chances inside the first 20 minutes, the Newchurch ‘keeper was kept on his toes when after 10 minutes when some smart play from Jacob Stimson down the left created an opportunity for Jamie dyer when the ball was slid inside the box for Jamie who turned and shot just wide.  The pressure continued from Cowes with Shane silk going close from 15 yds out, but his shot went just wide of the right hand angle of post and bar.  With 30 mins on the clock, Cowes thought they had a deserved lead when a shot from Stephen Perfect was spilled by the Newchurch ‘Keeper and the follow up by Jamie Dyer was put away, only for the Linesman’s flag to rule Jamie offside.  10 mins later Cowes did go in front, some neat play between Liam Slavin and Jacob Stimson down the left, enabled a low cross into Jamie Dyer, who turned and coolly laid the ball to Shane Silk who slotted the ball into the (‘keepers) bottom right corner of the net, 1 – 0 Cowes.

The second half started with Newchurch the more determined, putting Cowes on the back foot for most of the first 15 mins of the second half, playing the long ball game and turning the Cowes defence on every occasion possible, although under a lot of pressure there was not really any shots to test Kurt Butt, who had stood in as Goalkeeper at the last minute for the injured Jordan Brownrigg.  Cowes soon got to grips with the long ball tactics and starting playing some great football and creating some decent chances, the most stand out of the chances went to Max Draper, who was put through by some good work down the right hand side by Dan Verstraeten, Max was through on goal with a Newchurch defender putting pressure on him, only for max to shoot narrowly wide from 12yds. This gave Cowes a bit more confidence going forward and with around 20mins to go, the ball was played to Jacob Stimson from Left back Liam Slavin, Jacob carried the ball down the left flank and beat his man with a nice flick over the players head, he then kept his head to pass the ball to Stephen Perfect who dummied, then onto Jamie Dyer who also dummied the ball about 20yds out for Shane Silk to run on to and smash the ball right footed into the (‘Keepers) right hand top corner, for one of the best goals this season! 2 – 0 Cowes.

The remainder of the second half was very equal with Newchurch hitting the bar in the last 10 mins, and also Jamie Dyer going through one on one with the Newchurch ‘Keeper, Jamie hit his shot low across the ‘keeper only to see his shot saved smartly.

Final Score Cowes Reserves 2 – 0 Newchurch FC. Well done lads, a good win with some great football being played

Cowes Res Line Up:  Kurt Butt, Dan Verstraeten, Jake Taylor, Andy Watson, Liam Slavin, Stephen Perfect, Shane Silk, Max Draper, Owen Woodburn, Jamie Dyer, Jacob Stimson.  Subs: Joe Collins, Calum Taylor, Jimmy Wykes.

The Reserves played Ventnor FC in this Division 1 game, on a misty night at Westwood Park.  The reserves didn’t start well and had to battle with a determined Ventnor side for the majority of the first 45 mins, they hardly created any chances in front of goal and were reduced to long-range efforts, which rarely tested the Ventnor keeper.  The only goal bound effort came with 5 minutes left of the 1^st half when Kurt Butt met a deep cross at the back post only to see his effort come back of the left hand upright, and failed to convert the rebound due to some last ditch defending from Ventnor.

The second half started more promisingly for Cowes, as the lads seemed to settle down and start passing the ball in the way, which we have been accustomed to seeing this season.  The chances started to appear as Cowes put pressure on the Ventnor goal and within 10 minutes of the restart their efforts were rewarded when Kurt Butt beat his man on the left wing and put a hard low cross into the box which the Ventnor Defender could only turn into his own net with Owen Woodburn waiting to pounce, 1-0 Cowes.  Cowes were starting to dominate the possession throughout the second half, and looked the more likely to score when Max Draper started a run down the right side beating one man with a neat flick over the players head just inside the Ventnor penalty area, and then stepping inside another player who had made a lunge at the ball and missed but made contact with Max who went down, the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot, one of his rare good decisions in the game!  Stephen Perfect stepped up to take the penalty and fired high into the (keepers) right corner of the net, giving the Ventnor keeper no chance, 2-0 Cowes.  The remainder of the second half was very even with chances at both ends, especially late on when Ventnor hit the post from just outside the penalty area, luckily the re-bound fell to the Cowes defence who cleared the danger. 

Final Score Cowes Reserves 2 – 0 Ventnor FC

Well done lads, after a poor start against a tough tackling side, the right side won the game.

Cowes Reserves Team:  Jordan Brownrigg, Jimmy Wykes, Jake Taylor, Craig Insley, Liam Slavin, Stephen Perfect, Max Draper, Shane Silk, Jamie Dyer ©, Owen Woodburn, Kurt Butt.  Subs: Dan Verstraeten, Jacob Stimson, Joe Collins

Cowes Reserves 2 – 0 Oakfield

The Reserves faced a resurgent Oakfield side who had won 5 from their previous 6 games before today’s game. 

The lads started the game well creating several good opportunities to score but without applying the finishing touch.  Oakfield were limited to only one real goal chance in the first half which was blocked by Joe Winchcombe in goal when the ball bounced just in front of him which he managed to deflect away from danger.  The midfield was being run by Stephen Perfect, Max Draper and Shane Silk and the only way Oakfield were managing to upset them was to put some hard tackles in, with one of them on Max Draper deemed too hard by the referee and Oakfield Player Nathan Bett receiving a yellow card. 

Carisbrooke Utd 2 v 4 Cowes Sports Reserves

The reserves were away at Carisbrooke Utd on Saturday, the lads started well with some good pressure on the Carisbrooke goal but the failure to produce the final pass meant that things were level until Steven Perfect latched on to a Jamie Dyer through ball on the right hand side of the penalty box and shot across the Carisbrooke keeper and into the top left corner of the net.   That goal seemed to rally Carisbrooke, and Cowes found themselves under some pressure from the home side. That is, until a break down the right side from Jimmy Wykes who played the ball down the line for Dan Verstraeten who crossed into the box causing panic in the Carisbrooke defence.   The ball eventually found Owen Woodburn on his own who had the easy task of side footing past a helpless keeper.

The second half started with Carisbrooke putting pressure on the Cowes goal, and that pressure told when Carisbrooke scored within 10 mins of the restart. Cowes rallied and restored their two goal lead when Owen Woodburn was put through on goal from a well worked move involving 3 players. Owen raced clear to round the goalkeeper and coolly slotted home his second of the game and Cowes’ third.

After an period of midfield battles things got better for Cowes when a neat one-two between Jamie Dyer and Shane Silk on the edge of the Carisbrooke penalty area sent Jamie into the box, and then went on to beat the last man and fired his shot high into the Carisbrooke net to make it 4 – 1. Carisbrooke did get a late goal when Cowes failed to clear and the centre forward poked home from a few yards out. The game ended Carisbrooke United 2-4 Cowes Sports.

Well done lads, good win on a difficult pitch.

Team:  Joe Winchcombe, Jimmy Wykes, Charlie Allen, Andy Watson, Liam Slavin, Stephen Perfect, Shane Silk, Jamie Dyer, Dan Verstraeten, Owen Woodburn, Kurt Butt.  Sub:  Callum Taylor