A spirited Cowes Sports side have been knocked out of the Hampshire Senior Cup in the 2nd round after a narrow defeat to Southampton at a packed-out Westwood Park this evening (Tuesday).
Having been drawn against the mainland side earlier this month – as first reported by Island Echo – Wessex League Premier Cowes welcomed Championship side Saints to Westwood in front of a boisterous 881-strong crowd.
In the early stages of the match, Saints showed their technical quality, but good solid defending from The Yachtsmen – who looked threatening on occasions themselves – denied the away side of any real chances.
Midway through the first half however, the youthful Southampton side took the lead after winger Joshua Pitts put the ball in the net back of the net after a quick attack. (0-1).
In his celebrations, Pitts cupped his ears to the crowd; his actions met with booing from the Westwood Park faithful all around the ground.
Just after the half hour mark, the referee ruled an in-the-box challenge on midfielder George Colson a penalty.
From the resulting spot kick, Colson stepped up and sent the ball into the top corner, giving Saints keeper Josh Jeffries no chance. (1-1).
Southampton enjoyed the majority of the possession, but it took until just before half-time for them to regain the lead.
Winger Will Merry was played in down the left before breaking into the box and unleashing a powerful effort that beat goalie Ed Hatt at his near-post. (1-2)
Half time: Cowes Sports 1-2 Southampton
Cowes – chasing a goal – began the 2nd half on the front foot, forcing a throw in a decent position on the left wing.
Launched in by Scott McFarlane, the ball made its way to captain John McKie at the back post who calmly volleyed the ball into the net from just inside the six-yard box. (2-2).
Just after the hour mark Ed Hatt kept the scores level with a brilliant acrobatic save.
After forcing Southampton onto the back foot for the first 20 minutes, Saints retook the lead in the 65th minute when good play down the left found Nick Oyekunle in the middle of the box – the striker cooly slotted past Hatt in the goal. (2-3)
Substitute Jez Conway nearly found a 3rd Cowes equaliser on 75 minutes, only to narrowly drive the ball past the left post.
With their superiority showing in the latter stages, Saints added a 4th through Moses-Cesay to make the score 2-4.
The Westwood Park side pushed and pushed until the final whistle but they weren’t able to find the goals they needed to get back into the game.
The Yachtsmen bow out of the competition in the 2nd round.
Full time: Cowes Sports 2-4 Southampton
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Mumford, West, Barron, Oatley, McFarlane, Triggs, Colson, Phillips, McKie, Kelly Subs: Carter-Knight, Ahmed, Cook, Conway, Neale
Southampton: Jeffries, Okundla, Moore, Dobson-Ventura, Sheaf, Sheaf, Pitts, Daly, Oyekunle, Moses-Sesay Subs: Myers, Upstell, Fry, Martin
Tomorrow evening (Wednesday 13th September) East Cowes Vics take on fellow Wessex League Division 1 side Whitchurch United in the 2nd round of the Servio Hampshire Senior Cup at Beatrice Avenue. Kick off is at the earlier time of 19:15.
