Hamworthy United have never won at Westwood Park having only drawn there on one previous meeting, so this was never going to be an easy game. Cowes had only one change from last year’s team whereas the Hammers had only two players from the corresponding fixture last year. United once again made a slow start to the game, and were soon on the defensive. One or two of the Hamworthy players were having trouble with their footing, and it was from one such slip that Cowes took an early lead. Mark Kenway appeared to be in control when he slipped allowing his man to go past him, and move the ball inside. United were slow to close their men down, and following a quick passing move Charlie Smeeton smashed the ball past Martin Peters to give the Yachtsmen a five minute lead. Within a minute the Hammers should have been all square when Richard Jackson broke away, and was brought down in the box for a penalty. Dan Baguely took the kick only to hit it at a comfortable height for the Keeper to save.

Hamworthy gradually got into the game and although Cowes always looked dangerous going forward, at times also looked vulnerable at the back. United were not having the best of luck with their finishing, and twice beat the keeper only to see the ball rebound off the crossbar once, and saw it cleared off the goal line by a defender in a last ditch clearance on another occasion. The score remained 1-0 at the interval, although it could easily have been a different story had the Hammers taken their chances. United came out after the break, and controlled the game for the fist twenty minutes of the second half. A brilliant save from a Steve Gilbert far post header by Gary Streeter in the Cowes goal prevented Hamworthy from being deservedly back on equal terms. Once again United were made to pay the price of a missed chance as within a minute Cowes went two up. The Hammers were all caught up field by a quick break, and the ball found Ashley Wright the new signing from neighbours Newport. The experienced Striker brushed past Mark Kenway, the only Hamworthy defender in their half. He then drew the Keeper and slipped the ball past him, and into the corner of the net for a top class finish. Hamworthy still had their chances, but you knew it was not their day when another bullet header from Nathan Walker went inches wide when many in the crowd thought he had scored.

Martin Peters did well to smother the ball as Cowes threatened to get a third, and a score that they really did not deserve, but it remained unchanged at the end at 2-0. Their were a few disappointed people on the journey home, but in one way it is a good game to get out of the way, as not many teams will pick up points at Westwood this season, and Hamworthy know that they can play better.

Hamworthy United M. Peters, M. Kenway, S. Gilbert, B. Williams, N. Walker (capt) M. Dean, S. Legg, M. Hubbard, R. Dovell, D. Baguely, (J.Lovell 62) R. Jackson, (C. Mutch 72) Unused Subs: Greg Horlock, Matt Grimascon, G. Smart

This entry was posted on Monday, August 13th, 2007 at 12:13 pm and is filed under Match Reports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.