East Cowes Vics were knocked out of the Hampshire Senior Cup by professional National League side Eastleigh in torrential rain at Beatrice Avenue on Tuesday evening.
The East Cowes side can hold their heads high after competing against a team 5 leagues above them over 90 minutes and getting back into the game through a second-half Jimmi Burton strike.
Eastleigh started the game well, moving the ball around quickly on the slippery surface. 2 minutes after the start of play, a neat combination sent Lyle Simpson through but had his effort stopped by Vics keeper Alex Ram. In the 4th minute, Cameron Munn stuck the ball in the back of the net for the Spitfires, but the goal was ruled offside.
Then came a magnificent chance for Vics when 16-year-old winger Kade Woodford skipped past a couple of Eastleigh defenders only to narrowly miss the near-post with a 35-yard goal attempt.
The Spitfires nearly scored in the 29th minute when Haylor had a close-range, near-post strike deflected for a corner by Ram. The resulting corner was met by the head of Seung-Woo Yang, who diverted the ball into the back of the net from 6 yards (0-1).
In the 35th minute, Eastleigh doubled their lead when first Lyle Simpson had a powerful strike parried by Ram, then tapped in the rebound from close-range (0-2).
HT: Vics 0-2 Eastleigh
Torrential rain continued to pour down during halftime, creating very difficult playing conditions. Vics, looking resplendent after changing their kit for the second half, needed to come out flying if they were to get anything from the game.
In the 53rd minute, Toby Snow, who had replaced the injured Kade Woodford, crossed from the right to meet the flying head of Vics centre forward Jimmi Burton, who unfortunately sent his effort high and wide. A minute later, Lyle Simpson doubled the Eastleigh lead when he smashed the ball home after his initial effort was brilliantly pushed onto the crossbar by Alex Ram (0-3).
Despite trailing by 3 goals against a fully professional side, Vics battled gamely to get a goal back. In the 80th minute, Harri Catania sent a long ball forward to the edge of the Eastleigh box where Toby Snow flicked the ball on to Jimmi Burton, who slotted the ball under Spitfires’ goalkeeper, Charlie Philpott (1-3).
Three minutes later, Vics came agonisingly close to pulling a 2nd goal back when substitute Ryan Gregory sent the ball across the face of the goal to narrowly miss the far post. Eastleigh soaked up the pressure in the final stages of the game to advance to the next round, but not with the easy victory on the Isle of Wight they had probably expected.
FT: East Cowes Vics 1-3 Eastleigh
Vics: Ram, Turner, White, O. West (c), Jones, Hayward, Wright, H. Yates, Burton, Catania, Woodford Subs: Gregory, Snow, Marsek, Berry, Turkington
After the game, Vics manager, Richie Woodburn, said:
“I was disappointed with the result on Saturday (5-3 defeat to Bournemouth in the FA Vase) because I thought that was a winnable tie.
“I want us to be competitive. If Kade’s 35-yard strike in the 1st half had gone in we would have been 1-0 up. At least we posed an attacking threat.
“You have to remember that our lads have been at work all day. But we were competitive throughout against professionals.
“We are making progress. Our discipline is better, and we are getting fitter. Now, we have to turn our cup form into league form.”
Assistant manager, Darren Arnold, said:
“We’re a young side with an average age of about 20, with some good new additions. We are starting to gel now. Hopefully, we shall start progressing with performances like that.”
This Saturday (2nd October) 16th placed East Cowes Vics travel to North Hampshire to play Ash United, who lie 1 place above them in the Wessex League 1 table.
Tonight (Wednesday 29th September) 8th-placed Cowes Sports travel to Portsmouth to face Baffins Milton Rovers, who currently occupy 3rd spot in the Wessex Premier League. Baffins are currently unbeaten in the league and have a 100% home record. A full report of the game will appear in Island Echo.
Video of the Vics goal courtesy of Jordan Chapman.
