MATCH REPORT - away vs laverstock & ford
Laverstock & Ford FC 2-5 Cowes Sports FC
Date: October 26th, 2024
Venue: Laverstock & Ford Sports Club, Salisbury
In a thrilling encounter, Cowes Sports FC faced off against The Yachtsmen, ultimately securing a hard-fought 2-5 victory despite some contentious officiating.
The match began with Cowes Sports immediately asserting their dominance. Within the first few minutes, McKie opened the scoring, slotting home a through ball from Cook in the 4th minute. Just three minutes later, he struck again, capitalizing on a steal from Marsek who gave it McFarlane, beating the defender on the goaline and crossing to an open McKie, who smashed it past the keeper to double the lead to 0-2.
As the first half progressed, Cowes continued to control the game. A standout moment came in the 32nd minute when McKie completed his hat-trick with a powerful shot into the left corner after good work on the left side by Mumford where his cross picked out McKie on the right side of the box, turning the defender and placing it past the keeper once more, making it 0-3. The Bulldogs struggled to break down Cowes' solid defense, which absorbed pressure well and limited their chances all throughout the first half.
The second half saw a shift in momentum. Lavvy pressed high and were awarded two controversial penalties. The first, given in the 53rd minute for alleged holding during a corner, left the crowd bewildered. Lavvy converted this opportunity, pulling the score back to 1-3. The second penalty was awarded in the 89th minute, following a collision between 2 Lavvy players and Cowes goalkeeper Hatt. Once again the referee was quick to blow his whistle and call a penalty kick, even though Hatt got a touch on the ball and the players jumped into him. The penalty was scored giving Lavvy their 2nd goal of the game.
In the midst of the drama, Cowes managed to maintain their composure. Oatley scored a backpost header from a deep cross by Wright in the 79th minute to make it 1-4 and give the Yachtsmen some breathing space. Phillips then scored a penalty of his own in the 88th minute after Mumford was clearly brought down in the box by the Lavvy defender, where Phillips sent the keeper the wrong way to make it 1-5 at the time. Overall, Cowes Sports displayed impressive resilience, navigating the referee's questionable decisions while showcasing their attacking prowess.
As the final whistle blew, Cowes Sports FC celebrated a significant victory, pleased with their feeling of keeping a clean sheet in spirit despite the penalties against them. The match was a testament to their strong performance and tactical discipline, setting a positive tone for the rest of the season.
GOALS:
Laverstock & Ford: Bourner (Pen 53’, Pen 90’)
Cowes: McKie (4’, 7’, 34’), Oatley (79’) Phillips (88’)
Next Up:
The Yachtsmen take a trip just over the water to take on Millbrook FC in the Velocity Wessex Premier League, a test against a newly promoted team who are comfortably making their claim as a Premier League status club.