Velocity Wessex Division One football: New Milton Town grab two added-time goals to beat Cowes Sports

Velocity Wessex Division One

New Milton Town FC 3

Cowes Sports FC 2

NEW Milton Town remarkably pulled victory from the jaws of defeat, winning 3-2 despite being 2-1 down in the 92nd minute against Cowes Sports at the DMW Stadium.

The Linnets took all three points after Toby Colmer’s finish, emulating the heroic weekend comeback of AFC Bournemouth, who defeated Everton after also trailing in the 92nd minute.

Cowes made a blistering start, taking the lead after three minutes before doubling the lead 11 minutes later.

Matt Maybury’s side showed great composure when they could have crumbled, but they had to wait until the 75th minute to pull one back before levelling with 92 minutes played.

However, the Linnets were not yet finished, and they ignited the 102 fans inside the stadium with a 94th-minute winner, sending Cowes back on the ferry empty-handed.

The game was only three minutes old when a ball played from the back allowed Scott McFarlane to beat the offside trap before his early cross found John McKie, who met the ball at the penalty spot and slotted it home.

The second goal arrived 11 minutes later when the hosts lost the ball on the halfway line before a slick counter ended with McKie crossing to Will Bridi at the back post, who tapped past Ollie Bull.

New Milton’s first big chance arrived from a free-kick into the area around the half-hour mark when Brad Snelling latched on to the ball but fired over.

After the break, the hosts came out playing some lovely football, and a slick move involving three players on the left of the box resulted in a shot pulled just wide of the post with the keeper rooted to the spot.

The match became scrappy, with both teams trying to get the ball up high as soon as they had it. However, the Linnets soon got the ball on the deck, with the winger driving into the box and winning a penalty, which Snelling stepped up and fired home.

New Milton kept fighting, but as the match entered the second added minute, even the most staunch supporter must have felt their chances had come and gone.

However, the experienced Snelling had other ideas, with the burly goal-getter lining up a free-kick from 25 yards out before slotting it into the bottom far corner.

The visitors were panicked, while the Linnets kept their heads, passing the ball quickly. A lovely, swift team move ended with a sublime finish from the man-of-the match, Colmer firing past keeper Ed Hatt to grab the most unlikely of victories.

The Linnets return to action in the league tomorrow at home against Alresford Town at 3pm, with a Russell Cotes Cup tie away against Liss Athletic on Tuesday at 7.45pm.

New Milton Town: O. Bull, H. Thornton, A. Booker, T. Colmer, E. Cousens, J. Foden, L. Lane, L. Moore, C. McHale, C. McMonagle, B. Snelling. Subs: J. Kinge Phillips, B. Maybury, C. Smith, T. Steele-Perkins, B. Stone.