SYDENHAMS WESSEX LEAGUE PREMIER
COWES SPORTS 8, PORTLAND UNITED 1
STRIKER John McKie returned from a long injury lay-off and sparked one of the most incredible finales seen in recent memory at Westwood Park.
McKie looked to have built up his frustrations over his weeks of rehabilitation as took it out on hapless Portland United — bagging four goals after coming on in the final 25 minutes.
In what was of the most incredible second halves of football ever seen at Westwood, the Yachtsmen broke their points duck in emphatic style on Saturday.
They went into the game with fellow strugglers, Portland, sitting bottom and with no points on the board after their worst start to a Sydenhams Wessex Premier season since they were promoted almost four years ago.
But it is amazing what one result and one great performance can do, as Cowes recorded their first eight-goal haul since beating Ringwood Town 8-2 in the 2012-13 season — and their biggest result since hammering Downton 8-0 in the 2002-03 season.
Incredibly, Portland took the lead on 25 minutes with a Jimmy Mumford own goal, but the Yachtsmen, boosted by the return of Aaron Burford at the back, pulled it level seven minutes later through Jez Conway.
It was route one — a long drop kick by keeper Ed Hatt and a header flicked on by Jimmy Wykes into the path of Conway, who smashed the ball home.
That’s how it stayed at the interval, with Cowes on top, but not even the 149-crowd could believe what would unfold before their eyes in the second half.
Cowes did not have to wait long after the restart for the lead — Conway burying a brave diving header from a Wykes cross.
In scoring, Conway’s head collided with the post, but he was OK to carry on.
On the hour, Lewis Wright scored direct from a free kick — a set piece whipped in and over the keeper for 3-1.
Cue the return of McKie as a sub in the 66th minute — and what an impact he made!
Within three minutes, the Cowes marksman was in the thick of the action, sending an effort wide.
Fin Phillips came on for Conway in the 75th minute and he immediately combined with McKie to increase the lead — coolly finishing a one-on-one with the keeper.
Four minutes later, McKie was bundled over in the box and he stepped up to score again — 5-1 and game over for Portland.
But Cowes — and McKie — weren’t finished yet.
Alex Wright cut in from the right and curled a superb cross with his left foot straight onto the head of McKie for a quickfire hat-trick on 83 minutes to send Cowes fans into dreamland.
Captain, Callum Chase, who has had a turbulent month after he was the target of racist thugs at Fleet Town, was all smiles after he scored the Yachtsmen’s seventh with a looping header.
In the last minute, Jared Wetherick threaded a pass to McKie, who fired across Portland’s exasperated keeper into the corner for his fourth and the Yachtsmen’s eighth.
The win hauled Cowes two places off the foot of the table.
After the game, McKie said: “Brilliant result. The desire and work-rate throughout from the lads was incredible.
“In rehab, I had been working to a plan to get 20-25 minutes of play under my belt.
“I made a prediction before I went on I’d score three, but I didn’t think I’d get four!
“But it’s so easy when players like Fin (Phillips) and Alex (Wright) are putting it on a plate for you.
“It was a fantastic team performance and it only adds to our mentality that its about the squad as a whole, not just the starting 11.
“We knew a result would come, it was just a case of when.”
Cowes Sports: Hatt, White, Mumford, Perrin, Chase (capt), Burford, McFarlane, L.Wright, Conway, A.Wright, Wykes. Subs: McKie, Phillips, Wetherick, Ince,Winchcombe.
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