COWES Sports suffered a crushing defeat at the hands of AFC Stoneham in the Hampshire Senior Cup last night (Tuesday, November 12).
COWES SPORTS 0, AFC STONEHAM 4
The Yachtsmen were unable to break down their opponents, who were clinical in front of goal.
The tie started brightly, but Cowes were caught off guard in the fourth minute by a controversial free kick, that handed Stoneham an early lead.
Cowes attempted to respond quickly, but their efforts were thwarted by a well-organised Stoneham side.
In the 21st minute, a penalty was awarded to Stoneham after Cowes keeper Ed Hatt fouled a forward.
The penalty was calmly converted, putting Stoneham 2-0 up.
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Despite some positive moments for Cowes, including a near miss from George Carter-Knight, Stoneham extended their lead just before half-time with two more goals.
The second half saw Cowes trying to regain control and make an impact, but they struggled to break down the disciplined Stoneham defence.
Young Ollie Flood made his debut for Cowes in the 76th minute, providing a promising moment in an otherwise disappointing match.
Cowes Sports were ultimately outclassed by a ruthless Stoneham side, who capitalised on every mistake.
Despite the heavy defeat, the Yachtsmen remained committed to their footballing principles, and can take encouragement from the debut performance of Flood.
