WESSEX PREMIER

                    UNITED SERVICES PORTSMOUTH 1, COWES SPORTS 2

 

AFTER slumping to another disappointing defeat at Brockenhurst at the weekend, Cowes Sports showed great character to bounce back and earn three precious points under the lights at United Services Portsmouth on Tuesday night — gaining great confidence ahead of an importnt FA Vase tie on Saturday.

Having survived an early chance for the home side, the Yachtsmen took the lead on nine minutes — a superb team goal.

Campbell Laird won the ball for livewire former Vics striker Eli Ahmed to carry it 30 yards up the pitch. He passed to Aedan Coode, who fed skipper, Fin Phillips, to score with a sublime chip over the hapless Pompey keeper.  

Cowes keeper Ed Hatt was calld into action on 26 minutes — saving a well directed header.

Coode missed a good chance when well placed a few minutes later — his strike sailing harmlessly over the bar.

Just after the half-hour point, Hatt had to be alert to parry a firm drive from the edge of the Cowes penalty area to safety.

Almost immediately, as the game went end-to-end, Cowes were denied a hotly-debated second after it was ruled offside.

After a confident first half for Cowes, they went into the second period matching their opponents.

But on the hour, the Yachtsmen breathed a sigh of relief when a well struck Portsmouth free kick from the edge of the box, deflected off the wall and onto the crossbar.

With the home side working hard for an equaliser, Hatt was forced into making another great save from close in.

On 69 minutes, Phillips was desperately unlucky to see his 25-yard free kick beat the wall and crash back off the Pompey post.

Their luck got worse two minutes later when a Portsmouth corner was met with a powerful header to level it.

With eight minutes remaining, the excellent Phillips whipped in a dangerous free kick and, after some pinball in the penalty area, Jez Conway was on the spot to tap home the loose ball to regain the lead.

They now go into their home tie against Wessex Division 1 side Verwood Town, in the second qualifying round of the Isuzu FA Vase, at Westwood on Saturday.

Cowes Sports: Hatt, Laird, Dempsey, Perrin, Conway, Catania, Coode, Hayward, J.Neale, Phillips (capt), Ahmed. Subs: Nash, C.Neale, Holmes, McKie, Jackson.