THE first half of this FA Cup qualifier saw a dramatic last 10 minutes in which Melksham threw away a two goal lead.
Melksham created the first opportunity when keeper Brown’s long clearance was flicked on by Higdon into the path of Kovacs who saw his effort saved by the keeper on 9 minutes.
On 16 minutes Higdon did well to reach a cross from Rogers but could only head over at full stretch and with chances at a premium it took a fluke goal to break the deadlock which duly arrived on 33 minutes when a freekick into the visiting box caused panic and a wild clearance rebounded off a Cowes defender and drifted past the helpless keeper to put the Town 1-0 up.
The visitors responded with an effort from Malin which flew over and as the game opened up Melksham created another opportunity on 44 minutes when Benison won the ball in midfield and threaded a fine pass through to Higdon who found himself one on one with the keeper, but the striker saw his effort again saved by Hatt in the Cowes goal.
Just on the half time whistle Draper headed a good opportunity wide for the visitors and the interval was reached with the Town holding a slender 1-0 lead.
Benison was again in the action early in the second period when his timely block snuffed out a real opportunity for an equaliser for Cowes and on the hour mark the Town made their first substitution when Barnett came on for Rogers.
On 64 minutes the homeside nearly went further ahead when Bennet got on the end of a Jeffery corner but his downward header bounced up and over the Cowes goal before Town went 2-0 ahead on 70 minutes when another Jeffery corner was headed back across goal by Bennet for Higdon to nod in from 5 yards .
Higdon then created a further opportunity for himself when robbing a defender on 71 minutes but was unable to get any purchase on his effort and on 72 minutes the striker lobbed the ball over the bar after some good work by Barnett.
On 76 minutes Ibrahim came on for Benison and on 82 minutes a superb Ibrahim cross flew across the six yard box agonisingly close to Kovacs but the score remained at 2-0 going into the last ten minutes.
On 83 minutes Cowes brought themselves back into the game when Browne headed home from a long cross into the box and on 87 minutes Hiscocks saw his powerful freekick effort punched away before Cowes dramatically pulled level in the last minute when Browne again tucked the ball home from close range to bring the visitors level at 2-2.
Melksham responded with some late pressure and a series of corners but were unable to force the winner.
