MATCH REPORT - vs Millbrook FC

Cowes Sports 1 - 1 Millbrook FC

Date: Saturday 11th January 2025

Location: The Zilch Waste Stadium, Cowes

The first fixture of 2025 came to Westwood Park where we welcomed Millbrook FC over the water for our return fixture having only played against them 2 months prior in the Velocity Wessex Premier League. The previous meeting ended 3-2 to Millbrook after an unfortunate own goal by Cowes in the 85th minute, having managed to come back from 2-0 down at half-time to level the scores to 2-2. This was a great opportunity to show Millbrook that they were not going to have the same level of luck this time!

The pitch was in great condition considering the winter weather giving most other teams in the league a hard time, where Cowes were looking to make the most of it with their possession and passing playing style. An early chance in the 4th minute for the Yachtsmen came when a free kick was awarded far out on the right side of the pitch, delivered by Phillips where neither team managed to make clean contact on the ball, until eventually the ball was knocked away. Marsek finds himself on the left with the ball, chips it into the middle, cleared this time to the right side straight to McKie who drills the ball hard into the bodies inside the box where somehow the ball misses a confident foot from either team and goes wide.

The next 20 minutes was full of corners and crosses for Millbrook, an expected situation as they like to be physical, get the ball high into the wide areas fast and deliver into the box. Fortunately the Cowes defence were on form today where confident claims from Hatt and commanding headers by the defence didn’t show Millbrook any sign they were going to win these battles today.

The best chance in this period came to Marsek who after a Cowes corner getting cleared is picked up by Chase, who lays it off to Cook, manages to find a strong pass to an open Marsek in the middle of the box who blazes the shot over the bar. To save his disappointment of missing a great opportunity the linesman had raised his flag for offside so it wouldn’t have counted anyway.

The opening goal of the game came in the 32nd minute and in Millbrook’s favour when a rash challenge by Oatley on the edge of the box allowed Millbrook to setup a direct free kick in a dangerous area. The left footed midfielder stepped up and placed the ball low into the box around the wall and towards the bottom left corner, where the Millbrook number 9 who was perfectly placed stuck a foot out and helped the ball along by changing the trajectory of the ball away from Hatt and into the bottom right corner.

The half played out as it had done for the whole first half, both teams defences gaining possession of the ball and transitioning it up into the attacking players fast. As much as this sounds like the same tactics being used, the main difference here is how Cowes like to play with the ball on the floor to gain advantage, where-as Millbrook like to hit the ball high and wide towards their wings.

Cowes found themselves facing a deficit against Millbrook again and knew it would take a step up a level to not only bring the scores level, but also show everyone that they have the capacity to overcome adversity, which has become a common theme whenever the Yachtsmen play at home.

A high-foot challenge from the Millbrook midfielder on Hughes at the 50th minute caused a momentary pause in the game where the crowd and Cowes bench were adamant that it was a straight red card, were left bemused when the referee gave only a yellow card.

In the 56th minute Cowes responded after that frustration and brought the game level, after a smart piece of football allowing Mumford to be high on the left, he cut back onto his right foot and drilled a pass into the 6 yard box right at Browne’s feet, where after his turn on the spot and shot was saved by the defender, a well-placed Wright was there for the rebound and with his unfavoured left foot laced the ball across the box, the keeper, and the defenders, into the bottom right corner. A well-worked goal that shows how Cowes have the capacity to unlock even the sturdiest of defences!

The next 15 minutes became a match that replicated the first half where both teams when gaining possession in defence looked to put the ball high into the opponents 3rd, but again both teams brought their best defensive efforts today and couldn’t be beaten. The best chance in this period came when the Millbrook number 9 on the edge of Cowes box turned and shot with his left foot hitting the bar which was eventually cleared. Another example that moments of quality or luck were the only thing that would beat the Cowes defence today.

After the first substitutions were made for Cowes, the game became a high-intensity end-to-end game of football as both teams knew that 1 goal would likely give them the 3 points today (considering how well the defences were playing). On the 81st minute a moment of hesitation from the Millbrook keeper caused him to commit to closing down Marsek right on the edge of the left side of the box, and after fooling the keeper into a slide tackle by cutting back, knocked the ball into the box unfortunately behind McKie who due to the speed of the ball could only try and backheel the ball, which ended up going wide of the post.

On the 86th minute another opportunity came for Cowes When Jackman found himself with the ball high on the left, weaved his way to have space and passed the ball into the area where an incoming Marsek arrived and with his left foot shot across the box and wide of the goal. Another opportunity that could have been the winner for sure!

The last golden opportunity for Cowes came in the 90th minute where McFarlane’s long throw on the left is headed straight back to him, he takes the ball forwards and then drives to get around the incoming defender, who puts himself to the floor tripping McFarlane in the process, but no penalty given! Even the Millbrook defence were commenting towards the Cowes bench saying they were lucky with that one.

The game ends in a 1-1 draw and, as much as people may look at this as a fair result, the Yachtsmen know that on another day they would have got 3 points with the opportunities in the match not quite clicking today.

GOALS:

Cowes Sports: Wright (56’)

Millbrook FC: White (32’)

Next Up: Another home game, this time against Laverstock & Ford FC who we will face for the 4th time this season. With the record being 1 win, 1 draw, and 1 loss, we look to take 3 points against a team who find themselves also needing wins to peel themselves away from the relegation zone.