Cowes Sports slipped to a heavy 5-0 defeat against promotion-chasing AFC Stoneham in the Wessex Premier Division this evening (Tuesday, September 30).
Playing at home, the Yachstmen made a determined start and somehow kept the game level in the 16th minute.
A blistering Stoneham attack saw three quickfire efforts inside the box, but goalkeeper Ed Hatt produced a string of superb saves.
For much of the first half, Stoneham enjoyed the majority of possession while Cowes worked hard to regain the ball and link through midfield.
It was an entertaining contest for the neutral, but the visitors’ pressure began to tell.
On 40 minutes, the visitors broke the deadlock when a through ball was squared into the middle.
George Colson’s intervention blocked the initial danger, but the rebound fell kindly to another Stoneham attacker who calmly slotted home.
Five minutes later, the Yachtsmen were undone again.
A long pass released a Stoneham midfielder down the left, who cut inside to tee up his striker, who drifted across the penalty area before finishing neatly to make it 2-0 at the break.
Any hopes of a Cowes fightback were ended in the early stages of the second half.
On 55 minutes, a low cross from the right was turned in at the near post for Stoneham’s third.
Just four minutes later, the referee awarded a penalty after a Stoneham midfielder went down under minimal pressure inside the box.
The spot kick was converted to extend the lead to 4-0.
To their credit, Cowes rallied, and a Scott McFarlane long throw in the 63rd minute was flicked on, giving John McKie a half-chance, though his header looped into the air and was comfortably collected by the Stoneham keeper.
Substitute Backshall also looked lively, beating the offside trap on 74 minutes before curling an effort towards goal, only for a defender to head clear, though the assistant’s flag controversially went up.
Late on, McFarlane surged from halfway before releasing Finn Phillips, whose cross narrowly evaded Cory Sanderson at the far post.
With two minutes of normal time remaining, Stoneham added a fifth.
A cross from the left was met by a powerful back-post header that flew across goal and in to complete a 5-0 victory.
Cowes will look to regroup when they return to the Zilch Waste Stadium (Westwood Park) on Saturday, October 4, to face Hamble Club.
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