On a crisp Saturday afternoon, Cowes Sports hosted Portland United in what proved to be a gripping encounter. The 3:00 pm kick-off saw both teams initially matched in an equal first half, ending in a goalless draw. Portland United suffered a pre-match blow when star striker and league top scorer Greg Borthwick had to withdraw from the starting lineup due to a slight hamstring issue, relegating him to the bench. Josh Camp stepped up to fill the gap left by Borthwick.

The first half saw chances for both sides, but it was Jamie Hosking of Portland United who came closest, his powerful strike from just outside the box forcing an excellent save from the Cowes keeper. The tension remained high throughout the match, with both teams battling to break the deadlock.

As the second half unfolded, the Yachtsmen gradually gained the upper hand. The match seemed destined to end in a stalemate until the dying moments, when defensive naivety from the Portland United back line allowed Mumford to weave past four Blues players. Making a remarkable run from left-back into the visitor’s box, Mumford skilfully passed inside to Marsek, who slotted the ball into the bottom corner in the 90th minute.

The final whistle brought heartbreak for Portland United, who were left to rue their missed chances and last-minute lapse in concentration. The Yachtsmen, on the other hand, celebrated a hard-fought victory in what was a fiercely contested match.

Portland United: Harrison Bruton. Joshua Camp (67). Crit Clarke. Jack Delves Ben Holloway. Jamie Hosking (77). Patrick Jenkins. George Stuttle. Lewis Toms. Archie Woolford (51). Joe Wickham.

Substitutes: Shaun Bessant (77) Freddie Beale (51) Hayden Scott (67) Greg Borthwick. Josh Lucas.