BROCKENHURST DEFEAT YACHTSMEN IN LEAGUE CLASH

Saturday August 14th    The WESSEX League – Premier Division      Kick Off – 15:15

BROCKENHURST  3(2)  v  0(0)  COWES SPORTS

played at MEADENS SKODA ARENA                                                    Attendance:- 101

Referee:- JONATHAN PIKE                     Assistants: Jordan White + Grant Barnett

Team:- COWES SPORTS – Edward HATT, Conor WHITE, Dominic SEXTON(65), Mitchell RICKETTS(46), Callum CHASE, Jez CONWAY, Finley PHILLIPS (c), Morgan PERRIN(75), Ji NASH, Jimmy MUMFORD, Aedan COODE,

Subs:- James WYKES(46), Thomas ASHLEY(75), Scott McFARLANE(65)

Cowes Sports were on their travels for the third consecutive League fixture as the crossed the Solent and made their way to the New Forest to visit Brockenhurst. It was good to see a few Cowes faithful had made the trip across to the mainland as well to support the team. Once again due to the ferries running half an hour late kick off was pushed back to 3:15pm.

Two changes to the side saw Mitchell Ricketts come in to replace the ill Callum Pye-Poulter and the welcome return of Callum Chase with Jimmy Wykes dropping to the bench joining Scott McFarlane and Thomas Ashley.

The Islanders made a bright start with skipper Finley Phillips sending a left foot effort just wide of the home goal after just 4 minutes. left wing back, Dominic Sexton lost the ball on the left, it was played in to Silvano Obeng who fired his shot past Ed Hatt but wide of the right hand post, an early warning for the Yachtsmen. Joe Stacey then tested the Cowes keeper who responded with a good save low down. In the 14th minute a Finley Phillips free kick was fumbled by home keeper James Mayo but he recovered enough to save Ji Nash’s header. Brockenhurst went straight down the other end and took the lead when a cross from the right back area to beyond the far post, Bourhan Maatoug headed back to SILVANO OBENG who fired past Ed Hatt into the net, though I think Ed was disappointed not to have kept the ball out. Cowes responded to going behind and really should have equalised two minutes later when Aedan Coode crossed into the box and Ji Nash volleyed first time but straight at their keeper. Obeng was proving a handful for the Cowes defence and saw his shot deflect off a defender in to Ed Hatt’s chest on 20 minutes. Callum Chase then picked up a yellow card for kicking the ball away on the half hour before the Badgers doubled there lead on 32 minutes when full back Connor Ings was allowed to venture forward before crossing into the six yard area and BOURHAN MAATOUG headed home from close range. Sloppiness by the Islanders defence nearly cost them just before half time but a curling effort from Bourhan Maatoug went wide of the Cowes goal as Brockenhurst went in two up at the break.

H-t 2 – 0

Jimmy Wykes replaced Mitchell Ricketts at the start of the second half and a slight tweak to the system seemed to pay off for the Yachtsmen. A Jez Conway free kick from the halfway line saw Callum Chase head straight into the arms of the home keeper before two further changes by Max Draper saw Dominic Sexton(65) and Morgan Perrin(75) replaced by Scott McFarlane and Thomas Ashley respectively with Brockenhurst also making two changes at the same times. Home substitute, Jaydon Goodall was then a little lucky to stay on the pitch when he committed a foul on Conor White before then raising his hands and push the owes full back, but Referee Jonathan Pike only issued a yellow card. Having booked Cowes’ Callum Chase in the first half for kicking the ball away, Silvano Obeng done exactly the same in the second half but got away with it. A rare excursion forward from Jez Conway saw him cross the ball into the box but Aedan Coode failed to connect properly with the ball which bobbled to the keeper, another chance going to waste. Callum Chase then ventured deep into the Brock half but fired inches over the bar. Skipper Finley Phillips was then harshly booked for a foul, especially considering that a couple of home players had been committing fouls throughout the game but were not punished. After pushing forward in search of a goal to get back in the game Cowes were caught in the final minute of normal time  when Jimmy Mumford under hit a back pass, Ed Hatt and SILVANO OBENG challenged for the ball which ran loose and the Brock forward had the easiest of tap in’s to add a third goal for the New Forest side. Deep into injury time Jez Conway spotted James Mayo off his line but the Yachtsmen’s free kick sailed just wide of the goal and the home side secured the three points despite a spirited showing in the second half from the visiting Cowes Sports.