Report

Cowes Sports, relegated last season were the first visitors in the league last Saturday.
New Manager Tom O’Brien was without Players Tom Welch, Louis Sparey, Jason and Matt Guy, Simon Mead and Mike Budd for the opener but he has assembled a strong side.
He called up 17 year old teenagers Ali Rose and Derek Wheeler into the starting line up and with the return of Simon Reaney was able to put out a strong team.
The first quarter hour was fairly even with neither side posing a threat but Cowes Sports created the first chance in the 16th minute.
A long ball was headed goal-wards by the defence but not strong enough. Up popped Craig Thomas to chip over keeper Adam Collington but Ben Maddocks managed to clear off the goal-line.
Wheeler, who was very active up front, got the ball in the area. He was upended by Craig Insley for a penalty; up stepped skipper Ashley Wain to convert giving Dave Thurman no chance.
In the 23rd minute Sports equalised when a ball down the left found Gareth Bricknell who drove to the goal-line and pulled the ball back for Thomas to hammer home from 10 yards.
The remainder of the half was mainly contested in mid-field with neither side dominating or creating any clear chances on goal.
Ten minutes into the second half Tom Clifford pulled the ball into the goal area for James Vincent’s close range shot to be well saved by Thurman.
The game ebbed and flowed with both sides making substitutions to no avail.
Tom Foord flashed a 20 yard shot just wide; Sports hit a couple of long hopeful efforts high and wide.
Simon Reaney warmed Thurman’s hand from a 20 plus yard effort.
The game petered out with both sides putting in plenty of effort but without a cutting edge.
Man of the match goes to Ben Maddocks who had to cope with a far more experienced opponent but as the game went on he dominated him. Simon Reaney who had an excellent game in mid-field ran him a close second.