COWES SPORTS 2

PORTLAND UNITED 2

PORTLAND United conceded an equaliser with the last kick of the game as Cowes Sports snatched a 2-2 draw on the Isle of Wight.

Portland were 2-0 up thanks to a Ryan McKechnie double, but scrappy goals from Darren Williams and Jake Watson wiped away the Blues’ advantage.

The result was cruel on Portland, whose performance against a top-half team merited three points, and especially McKechnie.

The midfielder’s seventh goal of the season came in the 16th minute after Ben Morris had earlier forced a good save from Yachtsmen keeper Ed Hatt.

McKechnie headed powerfully past Hatt for 1-0 but Cowes responded when Ji Nash was forced left by the Portland defence before scorching a shot against the bar.

READ MORE: Bashley 2-1 Portland United - match report

Just before half-time, Hatt was called upon again to save from striker Troy Walbridge.

Portland began the second half strongly as Oli Lowes hit the inside of the post – but the Blues would not wait long for a second.

Morris launched a throw-in to McKechnie and the Blues’ skipper swivelled and shot in one motion to beat Hatt for a second time.

Portland seemed comfortable at 2-0 with 15 minutes to go but Connor Furmidge’s dinked cross was headed at goal by Williams.

Lowes got back to block his effort on the line but Williams’ follow-up was deflected into the roof of the net for 2-1.

Having withstood a fracas in the dugout and the tense situation of a one-goal lead away from home, Portland switched off with a 95th-minute corner.

Hatt was sent upfield and won the header, aiming downwards to Watson who forced his header past Portland keeper Mike Edgar to seal an unlikely point.

Blues’ boss Franklyn Clarke told Echosport: “Performance levels again were fantastic and we deserved three points.

“But the last kick of the game, their goalkeeper goes up, wins the header and it hits someone else and goes in.

“Sometimes when it’s like that, what can you do? But we had chances to put the game to bed. I can’t fault the lads, we’re improving and no-one can argue against that.

“We just couldn’t get over the line but the big picture is that it’s a point in the right direction.

“I feel like the least we deserved on Tuesday was a point at Bashley, we were unlucky. (Saturday) we deserved all three, there’s no doubt. We got a point, so little gains in the right direction.”

Blues: Edgar, Lowes, Hutchinson, Thomas, Poole, Smith, J Williams, McKechnie, Walbridge (Borthwick 58), Morris, Hewitt (Burrows 61). Subs not used: F Clarke, Lucas.

Referee: Anthony Cross

Attendance: 111