Scott McFarlane scored a late opener and converted a crucial penalty before Ed Hatt’s decisive save sent Cowes Sports through in the FA Vase.
Cowes Sports progressed to the 2nd Round Proper of the Isuzu FA Vase after a dramatic penalty shootout victory over Somerset side Middlezoy Rovers at the Diverse Marine Stadium on Saturday (10th October).
The Yachtsmen appeared to have secured victory through McFarlane’s 88th-minute strike, only for the visitors to equalise deep into injury time and force a shootout.
McFarlane signalled Cowes’ attacking intentions from the outset, blasting an early opportunity over the crossbar before seeing another effort deflected narrowly wide in the 22nd minute.
A minute later, George Colson thought he had broken the deadlock when his delivery into the penalty area struck a Middlezoy defender and ended up in the net, but the referee disallowed the goal.
The Somerset visitors responded with an effort that flew narrowly wide of Ed Hatt’s goal before their number 11 broke through the centre of the Cowes defence, only to be thwarted by a superb last-ditch tackle from Dempsey.
John McKie threatened as the Yachtsmen continued to search for an opener. In the 36th minute, the experienced forward surged forward before firing over the crossbar, while Hatt was called upon to make an excellent save at the other end 2 minutes later.
Cowes came closest to scoring in the 40th minute when McKie unleashed a fierce effort that the Middlezoy goalkeeper managed to fist onto the crossbar.
Half Time: Cowes Sports 0-0 Middlezoy Rovers
The first clear opportunity after the interval fell to McKie in the 59th minute, but his effort flew inches past the upright. McFarlane then sent another effort narrowly wide as Cowes continued to probe for an opening.
Hatt was called into action again in the 66th minute, producing another fine save to keep the visitors at bay, before a dangerous cross at the other end narrowly evaded McKie.
Charlie Marsek replaced McKie in the 70th minute, and George Colson tested the Middlezoy goalkeeper 2 minutes later. George Carter-Knight was also introduced in place of Jimmy Mumford as the Yachtsmen searched for the breakthrough.
The pressure intensified as McFarlane headed just past the upright in the 77th minute before Finn Phillips almost produced a spectacular opener, curling a shot against the crossbar a minute later. Colson then blasted over as Middlezoy continued to frustrate the home side.
With only 2 minutes of normal time remaining, Cowes finally found a way through. McFarlane reacted quickest to a deflected ball inside the penalty area and turned it into the net from around 10 yards to put the Yachtsmen ahead (1-0).
Carter-Knight almost doubled the advantage in the 90th minute, forcing another save from the visiting goalkeeper, and Cowes appeared to have done enough to secure victory.
However, in the 5th minute of added time, Liam Gilbert struck a dramatic equaliser from a corner (1-1), silencing the home supporters and sending the contest to penalties.
Full Time: Cowes Sports 1-1 Middlezoy Rovers
Middlezoy took the opening penalty but blasted their effort over the crossbar, handing Cowes an immediate advantage. Captain Oatley converted the Yachtsmen’s first spot kick, with George Carter-Knight and Jake Scrimshaw also finding the net.
McFarlane then stepped forward to dispatch Cowes’ 4th penalty, adding to his earlier goal and putting the Yachtsmen on the brink of victory.
With Cowes leading 4-3, Middlezoy needed to convert their final spot kick to keep their cup hopes alive. Ed Hatt had other ideas, diving to deny the visitors and spark celebrations among the Cowes players and supporters.
Penalty Shootout: Cowes Sports 4-3 Middlezoy Rovers
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Biss, Dempsey, Chase, Oatley (c), J. Mumford, Colson, Phillips, McFarlane, Scrimshaw, McKie. Subs: Carter-Knight, Marsek, Flood, St John Biggs, T. Mumford.
Man of the Match: Jake Scrimshaw.
Cowes Sports manager Mark Woodhouse was delighted to see his side progress and expressed his confidence in Hatt’s penalty-saving ability:
“When you get through to the next round of the cup, no one cares how you get there as long as your name is in the draw on Monday. Hatty will always save at least one in a penalty shootout, and that’s exactly what happened.”
The victory earned Cowes £825 in prize money and secured their place in the 2nd Round Proper of the Isuzu FA Vase, scheduled for Saturday (31st October). Before then, the Yachtsmen face East Cowes Vics in an eagerly anticipated El Clasicowes derby in the Wessex League Cup at the JA Dempsey Community Stadium on Tuesday evening (13th October).
