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)

Cowes Sports 4 v Pewsey Vale 1

The Yachtsmen produced their best form of the season at Westwood on Saturday to put second placed Pewsey Vale firmly in their place with a resounding victory.

After just nine minutes, Dominic Burbidge celebrated his home debut by converting a Gareth Bricknell cross and just a minute later, Tom Dye crossed from the left for another new recruit, Darren Williams to double the lead with a deft, close range volley.

The shell-shocked visitors, on their first ever visit to Westwood, could have gone further behind, but had their keeper to thank for keeping out efforts from Danny Ross and Gareth Bricknell. The Wiltshire side then went close when Chris Norris and Sam Yelland got in a tangle and the latter’s attempted clearance went narrowly wide.

Just before the break, Chris Norris ensured his side’s half-time advantage when he had to claw a free-kick away from under the bar. Ten minutes into the second half Cowes went further ahead when a slick move found Gareth Bricknell on the edge of the box and he rifled an unstoppable left-footer across the keeper and into the far corner of the net.

The visitors finally got their act together and reduced the arrears through Matty Bisset on the hour and Chris Norris then had to be at his best with three great saves as they threatened a comeback.

With five minutes left Cowes killed off any doubts however, when Darren Williams collected the ball forty yards out and caught the visitors’ keeper off of his line with a speculative shot that went in off of the post to complete the scoring. The striker could well have completed his hat-trick in the last minute, but his header went agonisingly wide of the post.

The performances of the two new boys were very encouraging for Cowes and the whole team showed that, on this form they should soon be climbing away from the lower reaches of the table.

Cowes Sports: C. Norris, C. Allen, L. Davies, S. Yelland, A. Bryan, A.Brett, D. Burbidge, T. Dye, D. Williams, D. Ross, G. Bricknell

Substitutes: M. Jones, B. Arnold, C. Thomas, M. Herbert, J. Winchcombe.

FLEET SPURS 1 V 2 COWES SPORTS

Cowes Sports travelled to North Hampshire without the suspended and injured experienced duo of Craig Insley and Jamie Dyer, but welcomed Dominic Burbidge, recently transferred from Newport IW and Darren Williams from Brading Town.

Within thirty seconds a Tom Dye cross from the left found Dom Burbidge whose shot was saved by by Tom Walker in the home goal. Fleet pressed forward though had to wait until the 26th minute before testing Chris Norris, who headed clear just outside his box only to see the ball headed back towards his goal,thankfully going wide.

A 30th minute corner from the Cowes left was headed towards the top right corner of the Islanders goal, but Michael Jones instinctively “saved” the effort, thus earning himself a red card and gifting the home side a penalty from which SAM KNOWLES gave the North Hampshire side the lead.

The Yachtsmen responded well to this setback and duly equalised just five minutes later when skipper Gareth Bricknell released DANIEL ROSS who coolly rolled the ball past the keeper.

The second half started with a bang as the Islanders took the lead on 46 mins, once again Gareth Bricknell the architect as he raced down the left before crossing to the far post where DARREN WILLIAMS was on hand to head home from close in.

Having been caught by Sam Knowles’ elbow in the first half ‘keeper Chris Norris was sufferring from double vision and was replaced minutes later by 16 year old Joe Winchcombe. Luke Walsh saw his shot hit the outside of the righthand post for the home side whilst a couple of other efforts were well dealt with by Cowes’ sub keeper.

Despite all their possession Fleet found Cowes defence in outstanding form to frustrate them. Gareth Bricknell had a shot saved, Dom Burbidge saw his shot parried just away from Dan Ross, who then broke free with Gareth Bricknell with only one defender to beat, Dan went alone and saw his effort palmed over for a corner. Sam Knowles then watched as his chip sailed just over the crossbar as Cowes’ ten men held on for their first victory of the campaign.

Team:- C. Norris, M. Herbert, L. Davies, S. Yelland, A. Bryan, M. Jones, G. Bricknell capt, T. Dye, D. Williams, D. Ross, D. Burbidge, Subs used; J. Winchcombe, C. Allen, B. Arnold, not used; C. Thomas

COWES SPORTS 0 – 1 LYMINGTON TOWN after extra time.

A 25 yard strike through a crowded penalty area by Lymington Town’s substitute DEAN EVANS just two minutes from the end of extra time broke the hearts of Cowes Sports who put in a much improved performance that should have seen them at least force a replay.

Premier Division side Lymington Town were slow starters as the Islanders forced the early pace, Craig Insley heading wide, Tom Dye shooting at the keeper and Gareth Bricknell’s goalbound effort being headed over for a corner, with keeper Stuart Williamson beaten, all inside the first quarter of an hour.

The New Foresters could have snatched the lead on 16 minutes, when two forwards failed to make contact from a free kick, then Cowes’ keeper Chris Norris palmed away an inswinging corner whilst under pressure. Skipper Gareth Bricknell then saw his 25 yard free kick gathered at the second attempt by the visitor’s keeper as the first half remained goalless.

The Yachtsmen continued to make all the running in the second half. Having already seen a shot easily saved, Tom Dye was allowed to take a quick free kick from 28 yards, his shot was curling into the top left corner of the visitors goal, but just as the Cowes faithful started to celebrate the first goal of the game, keeper Stuart Williamson somehow managed to get his fingertips to send the ball past the upright for a corner.

A rare Craig Insley slip in the 78th minute allowed Lymington a chance but Chris Norris was off his line quickly to spread himself and block the effort on goal.

With just a minute left on the clock, Lymington thought they had won it when Luke Ansell tapped in from 2 yards after Chris Norris had saved well low to his left, however a raised flag ruled the ‘goal’ out and extra time was reached.

Cowes’ best chance of the match came on 93 minutes, as substitute Dan Ross was put through on goal by Sam Yelland, but he could only scuff his shot wide. Then as a replay looked on the cards Lymington snatched the winner that earns them a home match against fellow Wessex Premier side Borunemouth Poppies.

Team:- C. Norris, M. Herbert, L. Davies, A. Bryan, C. Insley, S. Yelland, A. Brett, T. Dye, C. Thomas, M. Jones, G. Bricknell

Subs:- D. Ross, B. Arnold, S. Augustus, not used D. Thurman.