Cowes Sports snatched a dramatic late win over East Cowes Vics in last night’s (Tuesday’s) El Clasicowes derby – a Wessex League Cup first round tie at Beatrice Avenue, watched by a crowd of 487.
Vics were forced to contend with several injury concerns ahead of the local clash, with manager Alex Smith without Liam Newbold, Raff Boyd-Kerr, Aedan Coode, Kudzi Mazambara, Harrison Yates and Jake Wright. However, both Liam Triggs and Jordan Chapman were declared fit to start.
The Yachtsmen were without captain John McKie and full backs Ryan Hughes and Harrison Dempsey but were bolstered by the return of centre forward Jordan Browne from suspension.
The visitors had the first real opportunity of the evening on 5 minutes when Jared Tout-Waters tested Vics keeper Alex Ram. At the other end, Cowes shot-stopper Ed Hatt was called into action on 10 minutes to deny Connor Kelly.
Vics broke the deadlock on 14 minutes. Liam Triggs forced a strong save from Hatt, and although Scott Jones saw his follow-up effort blocked, Jacob Reynolds reacted quickest to fire home from 6 yards out (1-0).
Cowes almost responded through Jordy Cook on 27 minutes, but his effort drifted wide. The match remained well balanced, with both sides playing positive football. George Carter-Knight connected sweetly with a Scott McFarlane cross on 38 minutes, only for Ram to produce an excellent save to maintain Vics’ lead.
Half time: East Cowes Vics 1-0 Cowes Sports
Cowes started the second half with intent. Tout-Waters narrowly missed the target on 47 minutes, but just 4 minutes later, George Carter-Knight equalised with a superb 20-yard looping shot that left Ram with no chance (1-1).
Scott Jones came close for Vics on 61 minutes, firing just over the bar, before Jacob Reynolds was sin-binned in the 62nd minute for dissent. That left the home side temporarily down to 10 men, and momentum swung in favour of Cowes.
Reynolds returned later and had a golden chance to restore Vics’ lead in the 81st minute, but his close-range header was comfortably saved by Hatt.
With the game finely poised and time running out, the Yachtsmen found a winner in the dying moments. Fin Phillips showed great composure to volley the ball past Ram and secure a memorable El Clasicowes victory.
The result sees Cowes Sports progress to the second round of the Wessex League Cup, while East Cowes Vics are dumped out at the first hurdle.
Full time: East Cowes Vics 1-2 Cowes Sports
East Cowes Vics: Ram, Holbrook, Triggs, Wheeler, Wright, Chapman, J. Neale (c), Reynolds, C. Neale, Jones, Kelly Subs: Snow, Wragg, Sullivan, Hart, Voller
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Flood, Mumford, Chase, Oatley (c), Colson, Tout-Walters, Carter-Knight, McFarlane, Cook, Marsek Subs: Perrin, Phillips, Haward, Sanderson, Browne
After the game, Cowes Sports co-manager Mark Woodhouse said:
“A lot of people here were probably thinking “it’s going to be a chaotic game”, but it was a lot more structured than that. Vics had good parts of the first half, and we had to make a little adjustment.
“But I thought second half, we played really well and controlled the game.Vics kept working hard and battling, but we showed a bit of composure and kept hold of the ball and wore them down.
“Fin Phillips said he was going to come on and score when we put him on the bench – and he did so and put us through to the next round.”
For East Cowes Vics, manager Alex Smith said:
“I thought we had some really good spells in the first half. We had the upper hand and the game looked the way we wanted it to look.
“However, 2nd half, the spot we’re in with injuries, having to be not only without players but bringing the players off during the game for injuries, made a momentum shift towards Cowes. Responsibility wise, it has to be on me for making that many changes.
“Overall, I’m disappointed to lose the game. But we should be proud we are playing games like this on a very level playing field. Cowes have been playing in that league for a number of years, and we’ve had a pretty quick rise to where we are.
“The lads should take a bit of pride that we have shifted the landscape of Island football.
“With that being said, on a positive note, we still have to make that jump and get those opportunities over the line.”
