Cowes Sports 2 v Warminster Town 1

The Yachtsmen continued their fine run of form with a 2-1 home win over Warminster Town. That’s five games without defeat since the 2-0 reverse against East Cowes Vics and we now find ourselves in the top half of the table, twelve points above the relegation zone.

The first half-hour was fairly even but after thirty-five minutes we went ahead as Darren Williams ran on to the ball on the edge of the box to fire home.

Dom Burbidge then shot tamely after being put through by Gareth Bricknell, who then shot narrowly wide from a free-kick.

Just one minute into the second half Warminster equalised, Tom Welch scoring after we had conceded a needless free-kick out on the touchline.

Chances came and went for both sides after that until Myles Taylor crossed from the left in the seventieth minute and Darren Williams was on hand to hook in what turned out to be the winning goal.

Tom Dye almost doubled the lead, but fired his shot just over and we hung on to claim the points.

Co-op Man of the Match – Darren Williams

Cowes Sports 2 v 0 Shaftesbury Town

Cowes made hard work of beating bottom of the table Shaftesbury Town, but they fully deserved the points, keeper Chris Norris being a virtual spectator throughout.

Mikey Jones had the first shot of note, but his deflected effort was well saved.

Though they dominated the first half, their only other attempt worthy of note came when skipper, Gareth Bricknell flighted in a free-kick, but Lee Davies’ header went straight at the visitors’ keeper.

Two minutes after the break Cowes broke the deadlock when Gareth Bricknell cut in from the right wing and unleashed one of his left foot specials beyond Lee Hale in the Shaftesbury goal and into the far corner of the net.

Though Cowes continued to have the vast majority of possession, the youthful visitors kept them out, Dom Burbidge and Gareth Bricknell seeing their shots blocked, while a Tom Dye pile-driver was tipped over by the keeper and Max Draper sent another clear chance wide of the post

The Yachtsmen eventually increased their lead, when Gavin Bodrell’s cross-shot appeared to be going wide, but young full-back Sam Ford sliced the ball into his own net at the far post.

In the last minute, Sam Yelland burst through, but saw his shot rebound wide off of the upright.

The Co-op Man of the Match was Aiden Bryan.

Cowes Sports: C. Norris, M. Herbert, L. Davies, A. Bryan, A. Brett, C. Holmes, G. Bricknell, T. Dye, D. Williams, D. Burbidge, M. Jones.

Substitutes: S. Yelland, M. Draper, G. Bodrell, J. Winchcombe.

Cowes Sports 1 v Tadley Calleva 1

After a sparkling first half which could have seen them three or four goals ahead, the Yachtsmen had to settle for just one point, as the visitors made a spirited second half comeback.

Dom Burbidge could have given Cowes an early lead as he ran on to a mis-hit back pass, but his shot could only find the Tadley keeper’s midrift.

Burbidge was finding a lot of space down the right wing, but it was the home keeper, Chris Norris, who had to be alert, blocking a shot from Lee Chambers, who had made a broken away through the middle.

Burbidge then beat the visitors’ offside trap but screwed his shot just wide of the far post.

His next foray down the right ended with a Darren Williams shot being saved and finally his cross went out off of a defender for a corner.

With four minutes left of the first half, Cowes won a corner on the left. When the cross came over, full-back Lee Davies ghosted in to the box to score with a close range volley.

Just three minutes into the second half, Tadley drew level, when a right wing corner was firmly headed into the net by Craig Barker.

As both sides went all out for a deciding goal, Cowes still looked the more likely winners and Gareth Bricknell shot narrowly wide, then the home skipper’s free-kick Lee Davies, whose shot could only find the side-netting.

Davies then got on the end of another cross, but his far-post header sailed over.

At the other end Chris Norris made a fine save as the visitors tried to force a late winner.

The Co-op Man of the Match, voted for, by the supporters, was Myles Taylor.

Cowes Sports: C. Norris, T. Dye, L. Davies, A. Bryan, A. Brett, C. Holmes, M. Draper, G. Bricknell, D. Burbidge, D. Williams, M. Taylor.

Substitutes: M. Jones, C. Thomas, C. Insley, J. Winchcombe.

Cowes Sports 0 v East Cowes Vics 2

The Vics were worthy winners of this Christmas local derby and in the process, went above their rivals in the Wessex League Division 1 table.

The match was preceded by a minute’s silence for Ivan Spencer, a long-time supporter of both Clubs, who had recently passed away.

The visitors were on top in the early stages and ex-Yachtsman, Alex Harvey, who was a threat throughout to the home defence, drew a fine save from keeper, Chris Norris.

After ten minutes Cowes skipper, Gareth Bricknell, crashed a trade-mark free-kick against the Vics’ crossbar, but Chris Norris was the busier of the two keepers, keeping out further efforts from Harvey and Adam Sunsberg.

The Vics broke the deadlock after twenty-four minutes, as Alex Harvey ran on to a defence-splitting through ball and steered his shot wide of the advancing Chris Norris.

Ten minutes later Norris was in action again making an excellent double save from the dangerous Alex Harvey.

Three minutes into the second half, a mis-hit Chris Norris clearance only found Adam Gifford just inside his own half and the full-back coolly lobbed the ball back over the scrambling keeper’s head, to double the visitors’ lead.

The Yachtsmen were reduced to shooting from long range in a desperate attempt to claw their way back into the game and then, with time running out, first Darren Williams fired a decent chance over and Gareth Bricknell saw a header suffer the same fate.

In the dying minutes, the home side’s misery was complete when centre-back Sam Yelland was dismissed for a second yellow card.

Cowes Sports: C. Norris, M. Herbert, L. Davies, S. Yelland, A. Bryan, J. Dyer, G. Bricknell, M. Taylor, D. Burbidge, D. Williams, M. Jones.

Substitutes: C. Holmes, C.Thomas, M. Draper, J. Winchcombe.

PEWSEY VALE 1 – 1 COWES SPORTS

Cowes Sports’ first trip of the New Year was just about the longest they had to make, to Wiltshire where newcomers Pewsey Vale were waiting in anticipation and hoping to avenge the 4 – 1 hammering they got on the Island back in October, whilst Cowes were looking for a big improvement on their last display at home to Vics.

Craig Holmes and Max Draper were the two changes made by Manager Steve Taylor with Mikey Jones dropping to the bench and Jamie Dyer not travelling due to illness.

Most of the first half saw both defences well on top as very few scoring opportunities were created, in fact only three noteable efforts, Myles Taylor shooting a couple of yards wide after skipper Gareth Bricknell’s effort was blocked the only real chance for Cowes, whilst Pewsey skipper Tom Richie fired just wide of the Cowes goal and another effort soared well over the crossbar, so it remained goalless at the break.

The second half was just the opposite as just six minutes in, the Yachtsmen took the lead when a ball down the right channel sent Dom Burbidge away, his cross clipped off a home defender and sat up for Darren WILLIAMS to acrobatically get enough of a touch on the ball to send it past Richard Payne in the Pewsey goal before nestling in the bottom left corner of his goal. Cowes threatened to increase their lead as Myles Taylor set up Gareth Bricknell whose shot was blocked, Dom Burbidge maybe should have squared to Darren Williams who would have had a simple tap in, but instead fired wide of the keeper’s near post.

Then, in the 65th min the Islanders’ best chance fell to Darren Williams as Dom Burbidge split the home defence leaving Darren with just the keeper to beat, but Payne did well to stand up and save well.

Slowly the home side started to put pressure on the Cowes goal and twice within a minute efforts on goal from corners were somehow kept out by the Cowes defence, although no one is quite sure how. The pressure finally told when Vale equalised in the 74th minute following a quick break down the Cowes left, substitute Fred Loosemore evaded Lee Davies rash challenge sprinted down the line before crossing for Michael MARTIN to slide the ball past Chris Norris.

Cowes thought they had won the match when a thunderous 88th minute volley from substitute Tom Dye was heading for the top left corner of the Pewsey goal, but from nowhere Richard Payne flew across his goal and managed to fingertip the ball round the post for a corner, a truly top class save that will probably not be bettered all season.

Injury time saw Tom Richie’s 25 yard free kick superbly tipped for a corner by Chris Norris before yet another home corner caused mayhem in the Cowes penalty area, the ball once again being cleared off the line despite several Vale players claimimg it had crossed the line.

So in the end both sides had to settle for a point a piece, but from the Cowes point of view a much improved performance.

Team:- C. Norris, M. Herbert, L. Davies, S. Yelland, A. Bryan, C. Holmes, G. Bricknell capt, M. Taylor, D. Burbidge, D. Williams, M. Draper

SUBS; M. Jones, C. Thomas, T. Dye, not used- J. Winchcombe

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