ISLE OF WIGHT MIDWEEK FOOTBALL: YACHTSMEN KNOCK LEAGUE LEADERS MONEYFIELDS FOR 6

Centre forward Scott McFarlane scored a hat trick during Cowes Sports’ confidence-boosting victory last night (Tuesday) ahead of their vital 2nd-round FA Vase tie against Brixham AFC on Saturday. However, the Yachtsmen’s opponents – Portsmouth-based Moneyfields – only included 2 1st team regulars in their starting line up: Laycock and Bridgman. Manager Glenn Turnbull had decided to rest his squad ahead of their FA Vase tie away to Falmouth Town. Cowes Sports were close to full strength for this 2nd round Velocity Wessex League Cup tie, with Liam Triggs, Joe Hancott and Brandon Hayward absent through injury. Moneyfields had gone 17 games unbeaten before their visit to Westwood Park. However, it only took the Yachtsmen 4 minutes to take the lead when Fin Phillips put through Scott McFarlane to score with a low shot from the middle of the penalty area (1-0). 3 minutes later, Phillips – in his 200th appearance for the Yachtsmen – turned from provider to scorer, taking 2 attempts to beat Moneyfields keeper McGeorge after being set up by a Connor Kelly cross (2-0). Cowes were 3 up in the 13th minute when Jordan Cook scored after being put in a promising position by a further cross from Kelly (3-0). McFarlane bagged his brace brace in the 20th minute after some good work from McKie on the right (4-0). The 5th goal came 5 minutes later when Captain John sent a low shot past McGeorge into the far corner of the goal (5-0). Moneyfields had an opportunity to pull a goal back in 1st half injury time when Will Porter was faced with an open goal but sidefooted the ball to Ed Hatt from 3 yards.

Half time: Cowes Sports 5-0 Moneyfields The Yachtsmen continued where they had left off at the start of the 2nd half when Scott McFarlane bundled the ball into the back of the net to score his hat trick (6-0). With a 6-goal cushion, manager Max Draper rested 5 of his starting line up to keep his 1st team squad fresh for Saturday’s big match. Caleb Neale, Gerge Carter-Knight, Jimmy Mumford, Jez Conway and Connor Furmidge came on; Jordan Cook, Connor Kelly, Scott McFarlane Ryan Oatley, and John McKie came off. Moneyfields scored a consolation goal in the 77th minute when Laycock lobbed Hatt after a goalkeeping error (6-1). Velocity Wessex League Cup 2nd round: Cowes Sports 6-1 Moneyfields Cowes Sports: Hatt, White, West, Barron, Oatley, Colson, Cook, Phillips. McFarlane, McKie (c), Kelly Subs (all used): Neale, Carter-Knight, Conway, Furmidge, Mumford Cowes Sports now travel to Wessex Division 1 Alresford Town in the last 16 of the Velocity Wessex League Cup. After the game, Moneyfields manager Glenn Turnbull commented:

“Cowes deserved it; they were superb; they wanted it more; they were clinical. “We were anything but. “I was over the moon losing just 6-1. It could have been 10. “However, I only have a very thin squad. We are still in 4 cup competitions. Our priorities are the League and then the FA Vase.”

Cowes Sports manager Max Draper said:

“Moneyfields thought they could hold us and then bring on their more experienced players at the end to nick the game. But we hit them right from the start. “It was nice to get some minutes on legs after being off for 2 weeks and get through to the next round, “Hopefully, Liam Triggs and Brandon Hayward will be good for Saturday.”