Cowes Sports began their pre-season campaign by knocking 6 goals past Hampshire Premier League side QK Southampton at Westwood Park on Saturday (9th July).
The Yachtsmen included 2 new names in their starting line-up: former Vics’ midfielder Brandon Hayward and ex-Vics and Newport striker Eli Ahmed. 2 new signings graced the substitutes bench: Harri Catania (from East Cowes Vics) and 16-year-old Christ the King student Kudzi Mazambara.
Missing from the team (but signed on) were the evergreen striker John McKie, Jimmi Burton and Ollie West (further new signings from Vics), Connor Furmidge, Jake Watson, Jimmy Wykes, and James Flux. Altogether, 7 16- and 17-year-olds made an appearance for the Cowes club on Saturday.
The Southampton outfit had a very bright start with Cameron Yates sending a thunderbolt past Ed Hatt in the Cowes goal in the 13th minute (0-1). The away side then went 2 up in the 22nd minute, when centre forward Charlie Ecclestone shot the ball through a crowded penalty area into the roof of the goal (0-2).
It took a soft penalty award for the Yachtsmen to get back into the game when Eli Ahmed was adjudged to have been shoved on the half hour mark and shot the resulting spot kick into the left side of the goal (1-2). 3 minutes later, it was all square when Ji Nash buried the ball in the back of the net from 5 yards after receiving a cross from Morgan Perrin (2-2).
Cowes had numerous chances shortly before the half time break. First, Morgan Perrin had a shot blocked by the QK keeper, then Fin Phillips had 2 shots stopped on the goal line. Finally, just before the half time whistle, Eli Ahmed put Ji Nash through for the No11 to direct the ball into the left side of the goal (3-2).
Half time: Cowes Sports 3-2 QK Southampton
The Southampton side came close to pulling a goal back in the 57th minute through a free kick that rebounded off the crossbar. From this point onwards, the fitness of the Wessex Premier League side did for their Hampshire League opponents.
In the 63rd Minute, substitute Scott McFarlane was adjudged to have been fouled in the penalty area and stroked the resulting free kick into the left-hand side of the goal (4-2). In the 73rd minute, captain Fin Phillips picked up the ball on the edge of the penalty area, which he then placed beyond the reach of the QK keeper (5-2). Finally, 10 minutes before the final whistle, Aedan Coode – who had come on for Ji Nash – sent a deflected ball looping into the back of the net (6-2).
Full time: Cowes Sports 3-2 QK Southampton
Cowes Sports: Hatt (Jackson), White, Dempsey (Backshall), H. West (McFarlane), Chase (Laird), Conway (T.Mumford), Perrin (Catania), Haward, Ahmed (Nowak), Phillips (c), Nash (Coode) (Mazamambara also appeared as substitute)
In other games …
East Cowes Vics 3-2 Blackfield & Langley (Match abandoned)
Vics were creditably leading Wessex Premier side Blackfield & Langley 3-2 through a goal from Liam Newbold and a brace from Charlie Shilson-Marsek, when Aaron Matthews suffered a serious neck injury for the away side a few minutes before the final whistle, leading to the abandonment of the game.
Vics next play Whitecroft & Barton Sports at Beatrice Avenue on Tuesday (12th July). Kick-off is at 19:30.
Newport IW 1-2 Little Common
The Port lost their opening pre-season friendly at Smallbrook against Southern Combination Little Common FC by conceding a late goal. The scorer for the County Town club was Jared Wetherick.
