Cowes Sports reached the 2nd Round of the Servio Hampshire Senior Cup by beating Hythe & Dibden on penalties at Westwood Park last night (Tuesday).
However, this was a game that the home side should have comfortably won during normal time but for some poor 2nd half finishing.
The 1st half was a fairly even contest with few clear chances. The 1st fell for Ryan Oatley in the middle of the penalty area in the 3rd minute, but he shot wide. In the 6th, Hythe & Dibden No 8 Luke Gray forced Ed Hatt into a save at full stretch.
The Yachtsmen continued to create half chances with John Mckie making a 30-yard run in the 21st minute only for his cross across the face of the goal to be turned away for a corner. In the the 27th minute, Liam Triggs forced a save from Hythe & Dibden keeper Besant.
The 1st half ended with a great opportunity for Triggs to put the Island side into the lead in injury time after receiving a great cross from McFarlane, but he sent the ball narrowly wide.
Half time: Cowes Sports 0-0 Hythe and Dibden
The 2nd half began with the 1st of a series of substitutions as Jez Conway replaced Jordan Cook.
Shortly before the hour mark, Eli Ahmed somehow contrived to head the ball high over the crossbar from 2 metres from the goal line after being set up by a George Colson cross. Shortly after, he was substituted by Fin Phillips.
In the 61st minute, John McKie came close to breaking the deadlock, but his goal attempt was parried by the Hythe keeper. Ryan Oatley had the next scoring opportunity from a McFarlane throw but had his toe-poke shot saved. In the 65th minute, Jez Conway saw his curling goal attempt miss the upright by inches.
The Yachtsmen now threw on their final substitutes with Carter-Knight coming on for Colson and Dempsey replacing Mumford. However, they had Ed Hatt to thank for not falling behind late in the game after the Cowes keeper made a crucial 78th minute stop.
The closing minutes of the game saw numerous opportunities for the home side to win in the 90 minutes of normal time. In the 82nd, George Carter Knight turned a defender and shot just past the post. From the resulting goal kick, the ball was played to McKie, who dispatched the ball over the crossbar. The final opportunity fell for George Carter-Knight in the 5th minute of time added on, but he directed the ball at the Hythe keeper.
Full time: Cowes Sports 0-0 Hythe & Dibden
And so to penalties …
McFarlane had the 1st penalty for Cowes saved by the Hythe keeper. The away side saw their 2nd penalty stopped by Hatt and their 3rd fly over the crossbar.
For Cowes, Fin Phillips, Jez Conway and George Carter-Knight made no mistake from the spot. It was left to Captain John to dispatch the final penalty to win the game – which he did with aplomb – despite the away keeper guessing the right way.
Penalties: Cowes Sports 4-2 Hythe & Dibden
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Mumford (Dempsey), West, Barron, Oatley, McFarlane, Cook (Conway), Colson (Carter-Knight), McKie (c), Triggs, Ahmed Sub: Orton (gk)
The Yachtsmen now face AFC Portchester in the FA Vase on Saturday.
This evening (Wednesday) Newport face Baffins Milton Rovers at Beatrice Avenue in the Servio Hampshire Senior cup (kick off 20:00), and East Cowes Vics travel to Lymington Town in the same competition (kick off 19:15).
In Harwoods Renault Division 2 …
Newchurch 9-1 Oakfield
Newchurch knocked 9 goals past a depleted Oakfield side at Watery Lane. Aiden Reeves scored 4 for the home side, Keith Rust bagged a hat trick with the remaining 2 goals coming courtesy of Ben Chandler and Harry Plenty.
