YACHTSMEN PICK UP POINT IN DORSET

        SYDENHAMS FOOTBALL LEAGUE(WESSEX) – Premier Division                                                              Saturday December 12th 2020

SHAFTESBURY  1 1  COWES SPORTS 

played at Cockrams                                  Kick Off – 14:30                          Attendance – ??

Referee:- Connor Gates                                                              Assistants – Daniel Burke + Kevin Prince

Following their narrow midweek defeat at homw to Lymington Max Draper took his team to Dorset and a fixture against Shaftesbury who were just below the Yachtsmen at the start of the game. With Ed Hatt still suspended and Fraser Law unable to travel, goalkeeping coach Joe Winchcombe took his place between the sticks, Callum Chase also missed the ferry which meant a change around in the line up. Jez Conway dropped back to center half with Jimmy Wykes starting wide left. Club captain started his first game since returning from injury.

Team:-

Joseph Winchcombe, Conor White, Jimmy Mumford, Morgan Perrin, Jez Conway, Lewis Wrtight(75), James Wykes(65), Finley Phillips, Aaron Burford, Alex Wright, John McKie c, Subs; Scott McFarlane(65), Isaac Cruise(75), Max Draper

On a wet pitch that had had a tractor over it leaving tyre marks all over made it very difficult to play a quick passing game with difficulty gaining and maintaining control of the ball throughout. Finley Phillips had the first effort at goal but his shot was defelcted wide for a corner in the 11th minute. The home sides first forray forward came on 23 minutes when forward Joe Freak saw his shot save low down by Joe Winchcombe before Jimmy Mumford completed the clearance. Just before the half hour mark Alex Wright tried his luck from 30 yards but failed to test their keeper as hte effort flew over the bar. John McKie had a sniff at goal in the 34th minute but again could not hit the target. Five minutes before the break a long clearance sety John McKie racing towards goal but their number seven made sure John did not get far earning himself a yellow card. Quite a drab first half ended goal less and will not be remebered by many if any.

H-t 0 – 0 

A better start to the second half and just two minutes in Lewis Wright’s free kick from the left had to be tipped over the bar by the home keeper. From the resulting corner the ball flashed across the face of the Shaftesbury goal buit no body was able to get a touch. Shaftesbury responded as a free kick from the Cowes right was blocked by Joe Winchcombe, the ball,bounced around the area before eight had his shot pushed away for a corner by the Cowes number one. Aaron Burford pushed forward and was fouled earning their center half a yellow card before Lewis Wright saw yellow for a foul on the half way line. Scott McFarlane replaced James Wykes in the 65th minute. The breakthrough came on 71 minutes when skipper JOHN MCKIE closed down a defender, won the ball raced to the edge of the area before slotting the ball under the on rushing keeper into the net. Isaac Cruise replaced Lewis Wright on 75 minutes before JOE FREAK equalised for the home side from two yards. A late Finley Phillips free kick found Aaron Burford in the area who found some space but blazed the ball well over the bar in what proved to be the last opening of the match. An injury time challenge from John McKie saw him become the fourth player to be shown a yellow card.

So both sides had to settle for a point which was a little disappointing from the Yachtsmen’s point of view but at least it was a point that with other results on the day saw the Islanders move up to 15th in the table.