MATCH OFFICIALS: Referee – NATHAN COOK
Assistants – Paul Hicks + Kamil Balin
The last game before Christmas saw the Yachtsmen make the short journey over to Test Park to meet Team Solent on a cloudy and damp day and with the Uni having closed for the holiday just the bare facilities.
The Island side got of to a great start as JOHN MCKIE was fouled in the penalty box with just 11 minutes on the clock, he picked himself up to coolly dispatch the resulting spot kick into the Solent net to give the visitors the lead. Cowes were then forced into a substitution as Leigh Mackenzie picked up a hamstring injury and was replaced by Conor White on 20 minutes. Despite dominating play and creating several opportunities Cowes failed to add to their tally before the half time whistle.
H-t 0 – 1
The Yachtsmen were made to pay for their misses just three minutes into the second half when HISHAM KASIMU equalised. Team Solent, a changed team from the first half pressed hard, but Ed Hatt was again in good form to deny them. Harry Dye picked up a yellow card before being replaced by new signing ex Newport player Michael McEnery with just under half an hour to play. Pressure told as HASHIM KASIMU again netted to give the home side the lead in the 66th minute. With 17 minutes left Cowes sent on James Wykes for Connor Furmidge, Ed Hatt again denying the home side before with 13 minutes left HASHAM KASIMU completed his hat trick. Cowes did have the final say though as a great move ended with MICHAEL MCENERY heading home a second goal for the Yachtsmen but it was not enough to see the Islanders slip to their eighth consecutive defeat away from Westwood Park, a run that they will need to put a stop too if they are going to survive in the Premier Division this season. The positive note is that their performances away from home for the most part do not justify the end results, just need to stop conceding. Fingers crossed for more profitable travels in 2018.
TEAMS:-
COWES SPORTS – Ed Hatt, Max Draper, George Carter-Knight, Aidan Bryan, Craig Insley (c)Bkd, Ewan Cranwell, John McKie, Harry Dye Bkd(replaced by Michael McEnery 63), Connor Furmidge(James Wykes 73 Bkd), Leigh Mackenzie(replaced by Conor White 20), Finnley Phillips Subs not Used; George Turner + Dave Thurman g/k
TEAM SOLENT – Chad Collins, Joshua Davies, Ethan Taylor, Curtis Thorn (c), Adeoye Olumuywia, Jim Orvis, Ryan Dacres-Smith, Jemal Wiseman, Silvano Obeng, Hisham Kasimu, Tyrell Mitford, Subs Used:- Jack Wilson, Not Used; Steven Black, Mitchell Byrne, Jake Willis-Dellmore, Lee Webber g/k