Defeat snatched from the jaws of victory

Whitchurch United 0 Cowes Sports 1 ANDY Shores Garage sponsored United, not the first time this season, finished with nothing from a game they had the better of when entertaining fourth placed Cowes. As with the match a fortnight ago, United had more of the possession and created the better chances, but failed to convert them into goals. The first half was a scrappy affair with the game being spoilt by petty fouls and bookings from both sides carried over from the previous encounter. United created the only two decent chances of the half, Blenkarn shooting tamely at the keeper when free and then having a free kick pushed around the post. Cowes retaliated with a free kick on the edge of the box that clipped the post, but other than that both keepers had little to do. At the start of the second half, Clarkson managed to get in a shot from a tight angle that Guile could only parry but there was no-one on hand to finish off. On the hour mark, Caswell got away down the left and his cross was headed straight at the keeper by Blenkarn, then from Dinham's cross from the right, Clarkson fired over. Then with 18 minutes to go, disaster struck for the home side when substitute Barsdell's shot from outside the box just crept inside the post for the only goal of the match. With 10 minutes remaining and with just the keeper to beat, Blenkarn dragged his shot past the post.