4 goals from Ji Nash and a hat-trick from George Carter-Knight helped holders Shanklin to a romping 11-0 win at home against Binstead COB as they got their defence of the 2022 Island Echo Challenge Cup underway.
Hosts Shanklin started quickly, dominating the ball and keeping the pressure on the Binstead defenders who weren’t able to play out from the back.
Goals from Jason Smythers, 2 for George Carter-Knight and 1 for Pete Wilson saw the Seasiders head into half time with a healthy 4-0 lead.
Winger Smythers and fellow attacker Carter-Knight enjoyed brilliant first halves, with Smythers in particular always an option down the Shanklin left.
Half time: Shanklin 4-0 Binstead COB
The 2nd half began in the same way the first had ended with midfielder Ji Nash getting 2 in quick succession before Nicky Vyse tucked one away just before the hour mark.
The pick of the goals came after around 60-minutes when Carter-Knight grabbed his 3rd of the game from just inside the area. His left foot volley nestled in the bottom corner beautifully, giving the Binstead keeper no chance.
Nash wasn’t happy with letting Carter-Knight get the match ball though and he too scored a 3rd, heading in a cross from the left courtesy of Smythers – who was whipping in deliveries all afternoon.
Vyse added another one to his tally for the season and was hoping to make it a 2nd hat-trick in a month after his triple in the bay derby, but it wasn’t to be.
Instead, Nash who has been scoring goals for fun this season, grabbed his 4th just a few minutes from time after a penalty box scramble saw the ball fall at his feet.
Unsurprisingly the referee didn’t play any added time and the match finished promptly after 90 minutes. Shanklin go through to the 2nd round.
Full time: Shanklin 11 – 0 Binstead COB
After the match, Shanklin manager Paul Haward said:
“It was a great performance from us today. I’m just pleased to be in the next round. All the best to Binstead for rest of season. It was a tough day for them, but they are a good bunch, and I’m sure they will be back. We were very good today, and I’m pleased with our start to the season.
In other Island Echo Challenge Cup games …
Bembridge 2-4 Sandown & Lake
Sandown comfortably beat home side Bembridge by a 2-goal margin after going a goal behind in the opening stages of the game. Kai Westmore scored the equalizing goal for the away side before Alex Breingan gave the visitors a 1-2 lead going into the half time break.
In the 2nd half, Harry Mulholland bagged a brace for Sandown before Bembridge scored a late consolation goal.
After the game, manager Mark Mulholland said:
“It was a win that has been coming over the last few weeks. We’ve had a very tough season with a very young squad, but we seem to play with a lot less pressure in the cup competitions so far, which is where we’ve found some form. Bembridge started better than us but when we scored the 1st we never looked back and deserved the win!”
West Wight 3-2 Vectis
A brace from George Saunders – including a spectacular left footed volley – and a strike by Dan Burgess saw West Wight see off Vectis at Camp Road and advance to the 2nd Round of the Island Echo Challenge Cup. Ben Cutts and Jamie Barratt were on target for Vectis.
The other fixture to be played in the competition between Northwood St Johns and Oakfield was unfortunately postponed.
3 of the 6 1st round fixtures have been completed, with East Cowes Sports v Pan Community, Northwood St Johns v Oakfield and Cowes Sports Reserves v Ryde Saints yet to be played.
