Sport
Record crowd see West’s late header earn Yachtsmen a draw against Petersfield
Despite Ollie West’s late header with seven minutes to go, Cowes Sports have ended their season with a winless run of eight games.
Cowes have not won a game since mid-March, which was a 4-0 victory over Laverstock & Ford.
Petersfield Town took an early-lead through youngster Alex Hulme capitalising on a defensive mistake and slotting past keeper Edward Hatt to put the Rams ahead inside 20 minutes.
Chad Cornwell and Jo Houldsworth, who made his first start for Petersfield, came close to extending the lead just before half-time.
HT: Petersfield Town 1-0 Cowes Sports
Cowes controlled a majority of the second-half, but struggled to create chances.
As the action got back underway late on, after Cam Smith was forced off with injury, the Yachtsmen were level. A cross from the left was met by an unmarked West, who found the top corner.
FT: Petersfield Town 1-1 Cowes Sports
Petersfield Town manager Connor Hoare told WINOL after Saturday’s draw: “We looked much more of a better attacking threat today than we have in the last few weeks. We were on top and we were really pleased at half-time, but second-half they started to take control of the half.”
Assistant manager Callum Glen said: “I was disappointed with second-half performance. I thought we were excellent, the message at half-time was to repeat what we did in the first-half and we did not for whatever reason.
“If we want to be what we want to be next season we need to perform better, we lacked being clinical today. But, I thought Alex Hulme up-top and Jo [Houldsworth[, who is 16, both made their first start for the club and did well – their is plenty of positives to take from today.”
The fixture was played in front of a crowd of 420 spectators, a home record attendance this season.
Life under Connor Hoare and Callum Glen
Since the departure of Pat Suraci and Joe Lea, who both joined promotion challangers Gosport Borough. Horare, who was offered to rejoin the Boro’ in the summer, has been the man in the dug-out this season – has certainly done a remarkable Job.
The former Rams skipper has guided the club to a mid-table position, with the club initially being one of the favourites to be relegated. Petersfield enjoyed a decent FA Cup run, reaching the first qualifying round after beating Southern League side Bremerton Heath Harlequins in the process.
Former Moneyfields midfielder Glen was announced as player-assistant manager a few days after Suraci and Lea left, which certainly shocked Moneys boss Glenn Turnbull.
Glen made the most appearances for Moneys last season, who racked up over 100 appearances across his two spells at the club. He has made six starts for Petersfield.
Before Saturday’s game, Glen told Winol: “I have really enjoyed it, but you do not switch off – I was warned it was a 24/7, and it definitely is.
“It was something I have always wanted to do. If I did not do it now, I probably would have waited another five or six years. I was struggling with injury last season [at Moneyfields], so it came at the right time, I guess.
“I will not be going back to playing. I am happy what I did [as a player], I am happy I took the opportunity, it fitted in at the right time. “
What is next for the Rams?
Petersfield Town are back in action tonight in the Wessex Premier League as they travel to the Cams Alders, when they lock horns with Fareham Town – who have played nine games in 14 days.
One of those games being against the Rams, which ended in a 3-3 draw at Southdowns Builders Stadium.
The Creeksiders have picked up 13 points in those nine games – which has seen wins against league winners Moneyfields, Brockenhurst, Bournemouth and Hythe & Dibden.
A win for Petersfield would see them leapfrog Fareham, which could see the Rams finish 12th. But, for the Creeksiders they have the chance to finish ninth as they still have three games left to play.