Cowes Sports were knocked out of the Hampshire Senior Cup in the 2nd round at Westwood Park on Tuesday night by an Under-21 Bournemouth side fielding 4 players with 1st team experience, including Guianan international, Nathan Moriah-Welsh.
The Yachtsmen began the game against their professional opponents missing some key players, including regular goalkeeper Ed Hatt, leading scorer John McKie and captain Fin Phillips (who was on the substitutes bench). The home side were, however, boosted by the return of midfielder, Ewan Cranwell.
Cowes keeper Jamie Linington did well to prevent Bournemouth scoring in the opening quarter-of-an-hour, first blocking a fierce strike from left-back Ben Greenwood, then stopping a Kurran-Browne shot on the goal line.
However, there was to be no denying the Cherries on 15 minutes when powerful striker Christian Saydee scored from the angle of the box, finding the top corner with a thunderbolt strike that Linington claimed would have broken his hand had he caught it cleanly (0-1). 1 was soon 2 when Nathan Moriah-Welsh also found the inside angle of the netting from just inside the box with a further powerful strike (0-2).
The Yachtsman counter-attacked and almost scored when Jimmy Wykes’ dipping shot was diverted over the crossbar by Bournemouth keeper, Cameron Plain. A few minutes later, Connor Furmidge came close to pulling a goal back but failed in his attempt to lob Palin. Bournemouth then added a 3rd goal in the 37th minute when Nathan Moriah-Welsh sent a low shot past Linington (0-3).
The Yachtsmen appeared very unlucky not to have been awarded a penalty 5 minutes from halftime when Jimmy Wykes was bundled over by a backtracking Jack Seddon in the Cherries penalty area, but the referee saw nothing wrong and waved play on.
HT: Cowes Sports 0-3 AFC Bournemouth
Jamie Linington continued to make some fine stops at the start of the 2nd half, first blocking a volley from Aaron Roberts then a long-range strike from Luke Nippard. In the 67th minute, Guianan international Nathan Moriah-Welsh was brought down in the Yachtsmen’s penalty area and stepped up to take the spot-kick himself, which was stopped by Linington, who remarkably blocked a further follow up shot from Kurran-Browne.
The Cherries added to their lead in the 75th minute when Christian Saydee expertly lobbed Linington (0-4). A minute later, Moriah-Welsh got his hat-trick when he diverted a low cross into the back of the net (0-5). Bournemouth substitute Gidaree then scored from 10 yards from a corner in the 83rd minute (0-6). Finally, 3 minutes from full time, midfielder Kurran-Browne grabbed the goal he had been threatening all evening (0-7).
FT: Cowes Sports 0-7 AFC Bournemouth
Cowes Sports: Linington, Mumford, Cruise, Conway, Chase, Perrin, Williams, Cranwell, Furmidge, Coode, Wykes Subs: Nash, Phillips, Sexton, McFarlane, Denness
After the game, Cowes assistant manager, Alex Smith, said:
“We gave a good account of ourselves. One thing is watching a professional team play, another is actually playing them. It was always going to be tough, but what an experience!”
East Cowes Vics are the only Island side left in the Hampshire Senior Cup after Newport lost 2-0 at Blackfield & Langley. Vics play National League Eastleigh at Beatrice Avenue in the 2nd round on Tuesday 28th September. Kick-off is at 19.45.
