COWES Sports traveled to Larkhall Athletic’s Securitas Stadium in Bath for their FA Cup Preliminary Round Replay this evening (August 24).
After taking the lead at Westwood Park on Saturday (August 20), they were pegged back in the last five minutes, penning this evening’s replay onto their football calendar.
The first chances of the game fell for the home side, as the striker had a shot comfortably saved by the Yachtsmen’s number one Ed Hatt, with the keeper called into action again a few minutes later from a corner, which needed to be punched away to safety.
Within the first 15 minutes, Larkhall had the better share of the possession, but ultimately nothing came from it, something they would soon come to regret.
Courtesy of Cowes Sports.
Fin Phillips played the ball down the wing to skipper John Mckie, seeing his shot saved and deflected into the feet of Josh NEALE, who tucked home.
Ten minutes later, a well-worked throw allowed McKie to cross, finding the head of NEALE to make it two.
Cowes’ hard work would come undone eight minutes before the break, as Larkhall’s captain found himself unmarked for a free header to bring it back to 2-1.
Heading into the break, the Yachtsmen held on to their deserved lead, despite a succession of opposition corners and good Larkhall football to end the half.
The Bath side continued as the second half got underway, with a corner falling to a centre-back who had a good shot saved well by Hatt.
Larkhall started to enjoy better possession, but the Cowes back line dealt with it well.
The pressure continued throughout the second half before an equalizer was found with five minutes left on the clock.
Cowes had two good chances to win at the death, but both efforts were saved by the keeper, seeing the game into extra time.
After finding themselves 2-0 up in 30 minutes, Cowes were stunned when Larkhall hit the net for a third, just three minutes after the restart, after a lengthy debate over offside – not given, and 3-2 to The Larks.
Larkhall should have had a fourth, after a shot ten yards out from goal went well over.
However, moments later the Bath side struck again, this time bagging a fourth, and sending the Yachtsmen off on their three-hour journey back home with a disappointing FA Cup exit.
Next up for Cowes is a trip to Eastleigh to face fellow Wessex League Premier side Stoneham – who knocked out Newport in the FA Cup last weekend – in the Hampshire Senior Cup on Tuesday (August 30).
Larkhall face Cirencester Town in the next round.