VELOCITY WESSEX LEAGUE CUP - ROUND 3
TUESDAY 19TH NOVEMBER 2024
VERWOOD TOWN 2 EAST COWES VICTORIA 3

A mixed quality first half but a great performance second half sums up this Cup Tie against a top set East Cowes Vics.

Vics went in at half time with a comfortable cushion and a defence unchallenged.

We went in bemused and deservedly gathered a couple of rockets. No shoe throwing but a definite shake up……….

We had struggled to cope with the early onslaught. Our couple of counters fell short of giving ECV headaches and we continued to be on the back foot.

16 minutes and ECV celebrated a lapse in our concentration. A snap shot from just inside the box finished up in the net. 0-1.

We picked up enough energy to cause a ripple in ECV’s defence but Hockey’s shot was down the keeper’s throat and a Bentley Aga-In link on out right finished with Aga-In’s volley flying high and wide.

We had a couple more opportunities but couldn’t put the ball in the net. Marking was slack and the room for ECV to weave through the middle resulted in their second goal 0-2 with 5 minutes left of the half.

Half Time. 0-2.

Grzybowski and Whitelaw came on at half time for Kerr and Piggot.

A rapid move from ECV straight from the kick off looked ominous. A corner. Fletcher was awake as the inswinger dropped on the spot. His header cleared the danger.

A catastrophic replication of the Terracotta Army gave easy passage for ECV to go in with 3 on the board early in the second half.

A minute later Pope's tackle in midfield was a winner but the ref yielded to ECV’s call for a ‘Red’ !!!! General opinion was a yellow at best, but the ref’s decision held and left us with ten men and 43 minutes to go. It triggered a wake up call. Better attitude, tighter marking to win the ball, 10 minutes later Sam Bentley led the cavalry with a cracking goal making it 1-3.

18 gone and Dilnot made way for Brazier. We pushed on. Aga-In raced past his marker and delivered a low ball across the area. Hockey was inches away from converting.

ECV then had an opening and managed a shot on goal. Dinnivan did the business.

Passing quality improved and ECV’s bench recognised the change. Substitutions followed.

Aga-In gave way for Knott on 23 minutes. We continued to press. Bentley almost had a second with a good shot from the edge of the box. A defender got in the way diverting the ball past the post.

Handbags flourished. Our ten men worked hard to stay on top.

A minute left of normal time and another bout of pressure on ECV’s defence paid off as Fletcher cleaved a gap in the six yard box to steer the ball past the keeper. 2-3.

What a finish. We thought we would need our newly installed defibrillator delivered to the ECV bench but they survived, to the whistle, and our ten men, to go into the next round.

We wish them well.

Result. 2-3.