MATCH REPORT - vs Blackfield & Langley

Blackfield & Langley 1-0 Cowes Sports

Date: Saturday 25th January 2025

Location: Gang Warily Recreation Centre, Southampton

Here was where Cowes had to face up against a side in a relegation battle, with a new manager, and some favourable results over the December and January months, and the boys knew it would not be easy to break down a team with a disciplined approach.

The theme of the game was Cowes Sports have most of the possession (we reckon 70% plus) and Blackfield would defend with discipline and counter when possible, and this is what happened for the whole 90 minutes.

on the 10 minute mark Cowes found themselves with an early chance after Brown beating the offside trap finds himself moving into the box 1-on-1 with the keeper, but a clumsy challenge from the Blackfield centre back dispossessed him right at the last second. To everyone in the ground, it was a foul, but with Browne not going down to the challenge and not calling enough (perhaps) the referee waived play on and the ball was cleared.

The 23rd minute Cowes managed to create another great chance after being allowed to have the ball, where neat passing play between Mumford and Marsek then allowed Jackman to make a darting run forwards, where he was picked out by Marsek with the ball now on the left side of the box, A cross into the middle to an open Carter-Knight was volleyed goalwards, but sadly for Cowes the Blackfield defender was there to stick a leg out and block the shot, causing it to go wide for a corner. If he wasn’t there, we would be celebrating Cowes first goal of the game!

On the 26th Minute a free kick on the left by Phillips finds the ball falling towards Browne’s feet where a snap volley is deflected over but a goal kick was given, and on the 34th minute after a well-timed tackle by Oatley allows Cowes to take control again, the ball is played wide right to Hughes who as he approaches the 18 yard box passes the ball to the edge of the area where Cook takes a first time touch through for Jackman to run on to, but his left foot shot is sadly too soft and the keeper collects the ball.

The nature of the game started to get a bit heated as Blackfield players seemed to want to call for every foul as being reckless or dangerous, but this only led to 2 of their players being booked before half-time for being reckless and dangerous themselves.

The half-time whistle went and Cowes needed to recollect themselves and figure out a way to breakdown this defensively biased side.

In the second half Blackfield found themselves with the ball a bit more than the first half due to Cowes not being able to piece together the passes as well as before, or the attacking players losing possession to the Blackfield defence. With this happening, it allowed Blackfield to launch the ball forwards to their attacking players much more often, with Cowes defence standing strong, we knew that this type of play could hurt us at some point.

With neither side managing to make anything productive of their possession so far, it was on the 70th minute that Blackfield finally made one of their counter attacks matter. A long ball to the striker who runs past the halfway line and past Chase allows the ball to travel forwards further before taking it under control, and by drifting inside the Cowes 18 yard box gives himself the chance to take a touch on to his left foot and strike the ball across Hatt into the bottom right side of the net. Blackfield going wild in their celebrations and Cowes looking dumfounded how a game of this nature is seeing them losing the match 1-0.

The rest of the match was all about Blackfield putting nearly all of their available men into defensive positions with Cowes struggling to break down a numerically heavy backline. The final whistle went and Blackfield feeling elated with their 3 points just showed that when you commit to game plans with 100% dedication, results CAN go your way, well done Blackfield!

GOALS:

Blackfield & Langley: Roocroft (70’)

Cowes Sports: N/A

Next Up: Cowes welcome an impressive AFC Stoneham to the Zilch Waste Stadium on the 8th February, where having faced them already this season and winning unexpectedly at their place, the boys know that this match up will be a monumental test!