All three of our Isle of Wight Wessex League sides were in action yesterday (Saturday, February 22), with boggy ‘mud bath’ pitches causing havoc for players on the field.
Downton 3-3 Cowes Sports
Cowes battled tough conditions at strugglers Downton, controlling early possession.
Ed Hatt produced a brilliant point-blank save to keep the hosts at bay before the Yachtsmen struck twice in quick succession.
On 31 minutes, Jordan Browne flicked the ball through to Charlie Marsek, who finished calmly one-on-one.
Two minutes later, Ryan Hughes was fouled in the box, and Scott McFarlane slotted the penalty under the keeper to make it 2-0.
Cowes were in control, but a harsh penalty was awarded just before half-time when Harrison Dempsey was judged to have handled the ball.
The 'mud bath' pitch at Downton against Cowes Sports (Image: Cowes Sports FC) Downton’s captain converted into the top corner to halve the deficit.
Straight after the break, Cowes restored their two-goal lead as Callum Chase headed home at the back post from a Jake Wright corner.
However, another controversial penalty for Downton followed in the 53rd, reducing the lead to 3-2, and Chase was sin-binned for his comments.
Hatt continued to make several superb saves, but Downton found a late equaliser, bundling the ball in from a yard out after a scramble in the box.
A frustrating result for Cowes, who were the better side but were undone by soft penalties and difficult conditions.
Next, the Yachtsmen welcome Baffins Milton Rovers on Tuesday evening.
Amesbury Town 2-0 East Cowes Vics
Vics travelled to Amesbury for this Wessex League Division One clash, missing several key players, including Liam Triggs, Scott Jones and Harrison Yates.
Despite concerns over the pitch, the game went ahead, and Vics started brightly.
Zak Sullivan fired wide in the opening minute before Josh Neale saw an effort saved after three minutes.
Despite this, it was Amesbury who struck first on 14 minutes when a speculative long-range effort somehow dropped under the crossbar, beating Vics keeper Fraser Law.
The heavy pitch made it difficult for Vics to find their rhythm, with few chances created in a scrappy first half.
Aedan Coode went closest for Vics, but his 20-yard shot sailed wide.
After the break, the difficult conditions continued to favour Amesbury’s direct approach.
On 65 minutes, a mis-controlled pass fell to an Amesbury attacker, who rifled a stunning 20-yard strike into the top corner.
Vics’ struggles deepened when young midfielder Jordan Chapman was sin-binned in the 78th minute, and his reaction earned him a straight red.
With the pitch turning into a bog and both teams tiring, the game petered out, and Amesbury secured the win.
Vics remain in a play-off spot and look ahead to Lymington Town to Beatrice Avenue on Tuesday evening.
Newport 0-1 Fleetlands
Newport suffered another frustrating defeat, this time against play-off hopefuls Fleetlands, in a match that summed up their recent bad luck.
Port showed determination from the outset, eager to turn their fortunes around.
However, their familiar issue of conceding early struck again as keeper Leon Pitman misjudged a ball, allowing Fleetlands to bundle it over the line inside ten minutes.
Despite the setback, Port responded brilliantly, dominating much of the game.
Jez Conway saw a goal-bound effort deflected wide, and Joe Butcher was denied by a stunning save from the Fleetlands keeper.
The biggest controversy came when Newport were denied a clear penalty for handball, with the linesman and referee failing to act.
After the break, Butcher missed a golden chance to equalise, which could have turned the tide.
Harry Catania and Keelan Walsh worked tirelessly in midfield, while man of the match Neo Lamb stabilised the defence.
Pitman produced a breathtaking save to keep Newport in it, drawing applause from both benches.
Another Port penalty appeal was ignored when Butcher was clattered by the keeper, and Henry West couldn’t force the ball home in a frantic scramble.
Despite their best efforts, Newport were left empty-handed.
They will hope their renewed work rate brings better fortune away at Verwood on Saturday.
