An out of sort Fleet Spurs team but in a poor display in their opening league game against a side they managed to beat twice last season.
With players still away it was a weakened suqad available to manager Neil Baker, but the players that started the game should have been more than good enough to pick up 3 points.
Fleet started the better of teh 2 teams for the first 5 minutes, but then allowed East Cowes into the game, and they punished slack tracking by taking the lead after 10 minutes.
This was quickly followed up by a second when Pete Hibbert was adjudged to have brought down the Cowes striker, when in fact he did take a large part of the ball, but the East Cowes player converted the resulting penalty.
2 became 3 not long after, as the East Cowes team took control of the game, by winning their battles all over the pitch, just from working harder than their Fleet Spurs counterparts.
Having been booked for the earlier penalty, Hibbert gave away his second penalty when he handled in the box, with the referee consulting the linesman, he brought out his book, but player manager Neil Baker somehow managed to take the booking, and save Hibbert from an early bath.
Again the striker sent Mark Appleby the wrong way, and Fleet Spurs were going in at half time 4-0 down!!!
With the managers words ringing in the players ears, Fleet came out much more determined in the second half, and could have got back in the game straight away when Adam Crittenden went through on goal, only to hit the ball straight at the keeper.
They did manage to reduce the arrears with about 25 minutes remaining when George Short finished off substitute Adam Kennedy’s cross for his first goal in senior football.
The score was 4-2 with 18 minutes remaining when good work from Luke Walsh on the right saw him put in a great cross, and Adam Kennedy finished off coming in at the back post.
There was to be no great comeback today, and East Cowes held off for a vital 3 points for them, and left manager Neil Baker to reflect on another opening day defeat.

Central defender Dan Sleet has torn his ankle ligaments the week before the league campaign starts, and although doctors fear it may be 2 months before he is back in contention, with teh right rest and exercise we should see him back earlier than that.
This puts a real strain on the squad for the opening game against East Cowes Vics, when first team manager has no less than 8 first team players unavailable.

Fleet Spurs welcomed their local neighbours from Calthorpe Park for what was the first meeting between the two teams in a number of years.
With the Spurs very light on numbers due to holiday’s sickness work and injury, the side had quite a youthful look to it.
With senior players such as Ben Edwards, Adam Crittenden and Stuart Tanfield, plus the youth of Ben Clisby, Luke Walsh, Sam Knowles and Jack Chambers unavailable it was always going to be a stern test.
Fleet Town started with a very strong eleven, that included many seasoned non league players.
On a surface that was possibly still a little long, both teams spent the first half trying to get the ball down and play, with half chances coming for both teams.
Spurs were more than matching their senior opponents, and at times were causing Town real problems.
The  Spurs breakthrough came in the 43rd minute when George Short played in Jon Tanfield who got to the ball before his marker, he cut inside past two players and placed it into the bottom left hand corner past Lyall Beazley in the Town goal.
Fleet Town were to get back on level terms two minutes later, when Spurs gave away posession, and Jamie McClurg turned Neil Baker to make the box, and he cut the ball back for Paul Harkness to bury the ball past Phil Boddy on the Spurs line.
With the scores level at half time, Town came out much the stronger in the second half, and with a number of changes made they just looked sharper all over the pitch.
They were quick to take the lead for the first time in the game, when a throughball put in Johnnie Dyer, and despite what seemed valid calls for offside, Dyer placed the ball past Mark Appleby in the Spurs goal.
This quickly turned to 3 -1 when a run down the right wing and excellent ball into the box found Dyer again to head into the bottom corner.
With the Spurs team tiring, the floodgates could have opened, but to the Spurs credit, they reorganized themselves, and started to keep the ball better.
They should have had a penalty with about 20 minutes to go when Tom Chillery was brought down in the box, and despite the protests nothing was given, this led to an early bath for Chillery who the referee asked to be substitued.
Spurs did pull the score back to 3-2 with five minutes to go, when Matt Moore seemed to be tripped in the box, but in hindsight this was less of a penalty than the first claim.
Anyway Moore stepped up to send the keeper the wrong way, and gave Spurs hope of an equaliser.
In all honesty Town deserved their win over the course of 90 minutes, and they made sure of the result with the last kick of the game when a powerful header from Mark Kleboe put in Dyer who duly dispatched his 3rd and his teams 4th goal.
This was to be the last bit of action in the game, and both teams will be pleased with a competitive friendly played in the right spirit.

Fleet Spurs take on their senior neighbours Fleet Town on Tuesday the 3rd August at 7.45pm in the first game between the sides in a number of years.
With relations between the clubs good these days, to the extent that Town helped Spurs out with players at various intervals last season, this should be a good game for the neutral.
With current first team manager Steve Mellor on his holidays, player assistants Mark Anderson and Paul Harkness will take the team, which will have a different look to it from last year.
But with players like Harkness, Anderson, McClurg, Wheeler, Campbell and Read in the squad, this should be Spurs toughest test to date.
With players still away on their holidays, manager Neil Baker is unable to pick from a full squad, which leaves him with only 1 recongnised striker, having Luke Walsh, Adam Crittenden and Sam Knowles unavailable.
Also Ben Clisby at right back will be a big loss, especially if the impressive Darren Wheeler is playing on the left hand side for Fleet.
This will be the last opportunity for Neil Baker to run the rule over his squad, as they start their league campaign on Saturday the 7th at home to East Cowes Vics.

This Saturday’s friendly has been called off at late notice due to unforseen circumstances.

Fleet Spurs welcomed Ascot United from the Hellenic Premier League on Tuesday evening, for the first friendly of the season at Kennels Lane.
Ascot brought a strong squad of players, which included former Farnborough skipper Rob Saunders, current Phillipines International and ex Aldershot Town defender Rob Gier, and ex Burnham skipper Jeff Lamb.
Fleet were still missing a few players from their squad, including front men Adam Crittenden, Sam Knowles and Luke Walsh which left the Spurs a little short on fire power.
Fleet started the game in an unaccustomed 4 5 1 formation, and made a lot of the early running.
A great cross from George Short to Stuart Tanfield  almost yielded the first goal, but Tanners did not get a connection on the ball, although there were calls for a penalty.
Ben Edwards was always a menace with his runs going forward, although the offside flag seemed to thwart his attacks when through on goal.
A good move saw Matt Moore through on goal, and it looked as though he might finish the half off with a deserved goal, but Kyle Bradley was equal to his attempt.
The second half was a different affair with Ascot on top from the first whistle.
Again although they had most of the posession, they never really created any clear cut chances, similar to the Spurs in the first half.
The only goal was good enough to win any game of football, the Ascot striker Jon Bennett shrugged off Phil Boddy, with the latter claiming a foul which seemed like a valid shout, and with very little back lift, Bennett struck the ball with great force, and it arrowed into the top right hand corner, leaving Mark Appleby no chance.
Ascot had a couple of half chances after this with a Rob Saunders free kick being cleared off the line, and Mark Appleby making a couple of routine stops.
Fleet were not finished and thought they had nicked the equaliser at the death, when a Neil Baker long ball was headed on by George Short, and with it looking like hitting the back of the net, Kyle Bradley in the Ascot goal made an excellent save.
The game was to finish 1-0 to Ascot, in what was quite an even game, what was refreshing was the fact both sides tried to get the ball down and play, although this was made harder on a pitch where the grass was too long.

Jack Chambers has been ruled out for 3-4 weeks with brusing to the tendons in his ankle.
The injury was sustained away to Plymouth and will prove to be a bitter blow for Jack, who spent all of last pre season on the treatment table.

Congratulations to Sam and Suzanne Knowles who tied the knot on Saturday just gone,  the tall centre forward is now away for 2 weeks on his honeymoon in the Dominican Republic, and will return in time for the Spurs second league game of the season away to Andover New Street.

Fleet Spurs travelled to the John Madjeski Academy on Saturday to play local rivals Eversley who ply their trade in the Combined Counties division one.
Again missing numeorus players for various reasons including striker Sam Knowles wedding to childhhod sweetheart Suzanne, it was always going to be a tough ask, especially with a bare minimum 13 players.
On a hot summers morning, Spurs were to take the lead possibly against the run of play, when a long throw from Jon Tanfield was flicked on to Ben Edwards who made no mistake from close range to score his 6th goal of pre season.
Eversley were to get back on an even keel when a through ball confused the Spurs defence, and the Eversley stiker nipped in to take the ball past Sam Tufts and pass into an empty net.
Missing Sam Knowles, Tom Chillery, Phil Boddy, Mark Appleby, Adam Crittenden, Jack Chambers and Matt Moore, this was another good opportunity to see the depth of the squad.
The game was quite scrappy from a Fleet Spurs point of view, and Eversley on the day were clearly the better side, although the Spurs may feel a few key decisions went against them.
In the second half Eversley continued their dominance, and scored 2 late goals, when maybe a little bit of fatigue was setting in amongst the away team, but all in all Eversley deserved their win.
Squad: Sam Tufts, Pete Hibbert, Jon Tanfield, Neil Baker, Dan Sleet, George Short, Luke Thorn, Ben Edwards, Luke Walsh, Stuart Tanfield, Ben Clisby, Armartey Armar, Nick Russo.

The Fleet Spurs match against Eversley F.C on Saturday the 24th July will now take place at the John Madjeski Acadmey on the 3G surface with a 11am kick off.
The address for the game is NORTHUMBERLAND AVENUE, READING, BERKSHIRE, RG2 8AF.
Also a Fleet Spurs team will make the journey over on the same day to AFC Aldermaston for a 3pm kick off.

Fleet Spurs made the short journey to the Gibraltar Barracks on Tuesday evening for a game against Knaphill from the Combined Counties One.
Missing Ben Edwards, Adam Crittenden, Stuart Tanfield, Jon Tanfield, Ben Clisby, Sam Knowles and Jack Chambers, this was a perfect opportunity for Neil Baker to see the depth of his squad and also run the rule over a number of players who were making their debuts for Fleet.
Knaphill started much the better on an excellent playing surface, with Ian Savage pulling the strings from the middle of the pitch, and Matt Brunt always looking dangerous on the right wing.
Knaphill had a few half chances, but nothing that really tested Mark Appleby in the Spurs goal.
Fleet started to get the ball down and play, and this created gaps up front for Matt Moore who was excellent on his debut.
George Short also excelled on his debut, and was a key feature in all of Spurs good work, and he quickly built up a good understanding with Luke Thorn in the middle of the park.
The first half finished 0-0 which was somewhat of a surprise as both sides had good opportunites to score.
Knaphill made a few changes at half time, and Fleet made their substitutions 10 minutes into the second half.
Again Knaphill  made the better start to the second half, and only an excellent one handed save from Mark Appleby from a Baker strike kept the scores level.
Dan Sleet was having a really good game at the back, and Phil Boddy was his usual excellent self.
With about 10 minutes remaining, Fleet were to open the scoring when a driving run from Short created space to play in Matt Moore, and the tenacious striker finished off nicely.
We had further chances when both Amartey Armar and Jamil King Olweny came close to increasing the lead.
All in all with the players missing it was a very good performance, and something the Spurs should be looking to build on.
Fleet Spurs – Mark Appleby, Nick Russo, Pat Drage, Neil Baker, Dan Sleet, Phil Boddy (C), Luke Thorn, George Short, Matt Moore, Luke Walsh, Tom Chillery, Glen Mackenzie, Danny Harrison, Amartey Armar, Jamil King Olweny, Ryan Coupland.