CAPTAIN JOHN STEERS YACHTSMEN TO GOLD CUP FINAL AGAINST NEWPORT

Captain John McKie scored a hat-trick as Cowes Sports comfortably beat Shanklin in the Gold Cup semi final at Beatrice Avenue yesterday evening (Thursday). The Yachtsmen will meet Newport in the final of the competition on Friday 10th May. Shanklin began the game on the front foot with Ben Gregory forcing a fine save from Ed Hatt with a 2nd minute header. However, the Yachtsmen dominated the remainder of the half with the Seasiders defending doggedly. The Yachtsmen’s 1st chance came in the 14th minute when both Shanklin keeper Phillips and Cowes centre forward McFarlane both missed a Connor Kelly cross. 4 minutes later, McFarlane shot wide. Cowes Sports took the lead in the 21st minute with Liam Triggs smashing in a Connor Kelly corner from inside the 6-yard box (1-0). John McKie added a 2nd for the Yachtsmen 5 minutes from half time by chesting the ball into the goal at the far post after Sean Phillips had dropped a high Ryan Oatley cross (2-0). Half time: Cowes Sports 2-0 Shanklin

Wessex Premier Cowes Sports showed their quality in the 2nd half by putting a further 4 goals past their Island league opponents. 10 minutes into the 2nd half, McKie bagged his brace by dispatching a free kick from the edge of the penalty area past Phillips (3-0). Connor Kelly added a 4th for Cowes in the 70th minute by picking up a long ball from Fin Phillips before slotting it past the Shanklin keeper (4-0).

John McKie’s hat trick came in the 78th minute with a shot from close to the penalty spot drilled into the right corner of the goal (5-0). 4 minutes from full time, substitute Fred Salter scored the final goal of the game by converting a Connor Kelly cross (6-0). Full time: Cowes Sports 6-0 Shanklin

Cowes Sports: Hatt, Mumford, West, Triggs, Oatley, Hancottt, Phillips, Cook, McFarlane, McKie, Kelly Subs: Colson, Neale, Jackman, Coshell, Salter Shanklin: Phillips, Drudge, Smythers, F. Stuber, Gregory, D. Stuber, Field, Flux, Sanderson, Trowbridge, Wilson Subs: Fin Lloyd, Fraser Lloyd, Winterbottom, Builth After the game, Cowes Sports assistant manager Mark Woodhouse (deputizing for Max Draper) said:

“Shanklin battled well in the 1st half. However, we showed our quality with 4 2nd half goals. “We’re looking forward to the final against Newport, which will be a tough game. Port did well in the 2nd half of their season.”

Shanklin FC commented on Facebook:

“A tough game against superior opposition, but we go again next week in the league against West Wight for our last game of the season.”

After the game, the venue for the Gold Cup final between Newport and Cowes Sports was decided by a toss of a coin. It was initially to be played at Westwood Park on Tuesday 14th May. However, both clubs preferred that the fixture be played earlier on Friday 10th May, believing a cup final on Friday would attract a larger crowd. Apparently, the difficulty with the earlier date was that the Isle of Wight Divisional Football Association needed to provide prior notice to their bank to retrieve the cup – made of solid gold. UPDATE (15:30): The Gold Cup final will be played at Westwood Park on Friday 10th May. Kick off will be at 19:30.