WESSEX LEAGUE DIVISION ONE
SATURDAY 1ST OCTOBER 2022
VERWOOD TOWN 1 EAST COWES VICTORIA 1

A long ball down ECV right with only a minute on the clock was fortunately cut out by an alert Taylor. A line ball sparked a counter. Carswell and McWilliams combined to open up a gap but the cross was cut out and cleared. A good start

We stayed on the front foot for a while during which McMonagle’s shot was beaten out by the keeper and a long range effort from Fishlock flew over the bar.

Then…we lost momentum. A spell of scrappy play followed and we gave ground for counters to test defence. We survived but thanks to a couple of excellent stops by Mitchell and stout defending by Davis and Broom we kept the score board from flagging up goals against.

ECV ‘s long ball was a feature but despite the odd break into our third we looked safe as Smith Broad Broom and Davis blocked entry into the box.

We spluttered rather than fired. It took 33 minutes of the half before we put together a real attempt on goal and McWilliams finished off a slick move with a low shot into the bottom corner. 1-0.

Half Time 1-0

Our usual quality on the ball was missing. ECV benefitted from a lethargic opposition and pushed on.

Mitchell was busy but couldn’t do anything about a cross dropping on the penalty spot with 5 minutes gone. A lack of defensive decision allowed the ball to be planted into the bottom corner 1-1.

Pressure continued as we gave ground. Our counters didn’t yield as we failed to convert several good openings.

15 minutes of the half saw Fishlock giving way for Yamoah.

ECV had the appetite and went close a couple of times but again Mitchell was on form and despite losing Broom to an injury causing a shuffle in defence, we survived. Bailey Tabor came on to replace Broom’s absence.

We found a little bit of quality. Storey and Broad opened up ECV’s central area and Broad’s finish was inches away from putting us ahead.

33 minutes and a McMonagle mazy run rounded four defenders. A rasping shot was palmed out by the keeper. Yamoah tried an angle shot from the re bound but the keeper sprawled and body blocked. McWilliams followed in and agonised as his ‘on target’ effort was kicked off the line.

On 39 Storey made way for Rossiter.

ECV went for broke. We defended well. Equally our counters were contained by an energetic defence and a good keeper.

The game went to 5 minutes extra time and both goals had a flurry of activity but we had no further changes to the score board so finished with our first draw of the season.

Result 1-1.