Cowes Sports advanced to the Gold Cup semi-final by beating West Wight at Westwood Park on Tuesday evening (29th March).
It wasn’t plain sailing for the Yachtsmen as the Island League side held out for almost 80 minutes before finally conceding the penalty that cost them the game.
In a contest of ferocious tackles but no red cards, the first player to enter referee John Hopkinson’s notebook was West Wight’s Charlie McFarlane for a clumsy tackle on his brother, Cowes Sports’ Scott.
In the 18th minute, Ji Nash had a great opportunity to score for the home side but was denied by West Wight keeper Shane East. However, in the build up to the move Adam Voller was unfortunately caught by a late tackle and was stretchered off the pitch in considerable pain, to be replaced by Aedan Coode.
In the 25th minute, Cowes centre forward Darren Williams bundled the ball into the back of the West Wight net, then saw his ‘goal’ disallowed for a foul on the West Wight keeper. On the half hour mark, Williams had a great opportunity to score after being set up by Coode but was unable to control the ball. 3 minutes before half time, Cowes forward Ji Nash saw his thunderous shot cannon off the upright.
The final chances of the half fell to West Wight. First, Jordan Flynn had a deflected shot punched over the crossbar by Cowes keeper Hatt. Then, Tom Dye was bundled over in the Cowes penalty area, but no spot kick was given.
Half time: Cowes Sports 0-0 West Wight
The 2nd half saw the introduction of Cowes talisman John McKie, who replaced Ben Tickner. West Wight had their chances: in the 59th minute when Charlie Smeeton was bundled off the ball in the Cowes penalty area, and in the 65th minute when Smeeton struck the ball over the crossbar from a promising position.
As the 2nd half drew to a close, West Wight legs began to tire, giving the Wessex Premier side plentiful opportunities to score. In the 75th minute, John Mckie had a close range shot blocked by Shane East. A minute later, East fisted a Ji Nash effort over the crossbar. Then, McKie had a further shot deflected past the near post.
The breakthrough for Cowes finally came in the 79th minute when Jimmy Mumford was fouled just inside the West Wight penalty area. John McKie dispatched the resulting spot kick into the top right corner of the West Wight goal to ensure the Yachtsmen sailed on to the semi-final.
Full time: Cowes Sports 1-0 West Wight
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Dempsey, Tickner, Jackson, Conway, McFarlane, Phillips, Mumford, Williams, Voller, Nash Subs: Coode, McKie, Adams, Coshell, Denness
West Wight: East, Riddett, Groom, McFarlane, Ring, Burgess, Dye, Harris, Flynn, Smeeton, Moore Subs: Herbert, Marrett, Gulliver, Carey, Wakelin
After the game, the frustrated Cowes Sports manager Max Draper said: “it was an ugly, lacklustre performance. We need to be 10 levels better than this.”
West Wight manager Johnny Holmes said of his team’s performance:
“It was a good game to watch. I’m proud of my lads. They did themselves justice and should do this every week. You expect to lose to a Wessex League side, but it’s frustrating to lose to a penalty. We had a game plan to be solid defensively, and it worked. But fitness told in the last 15 to 20 minutes.”
Cowes now play Island champions-in-waiting Whitecroft & Barton in the semi-final (time and date to be arranged). The other Gold Cup semi-final will be between Newport and East Cowes Vics, to be played Westwood Park on Tuesday, 12th April at 19:30.
Laverstock & Ford 2-1 East Cowes Vics
Vics travelled to Wiltshire for the 2nd time in 4 days to face promotion chasing Laverstock & Ford.
Vics’ preparation for the game was hardly ideal, having to change on the minibus and arriving only 20 minutes before kick-off. Due to injuries and suspensions, Vics were forced to field 6 16-year-olds in the side, including Ollie Ash, who was making his debut.
The East Cowes side trailed 1-0 at half time through a 38th minute goal from Laverstock winger Lewis Wakeford.
Playing up the slope, Vics put in an excellent 2nd half performance with Jordan Chapman hitting the Laverstock woodwork and Toby Snow failing to convert an excellent scoring opportunity.
The game turned on 2 penalty decisions in the final 15 minutes. First, Toby Snow was brought down in the Laverstock penalty area, but the Island side were not awarded a penalty. A minute later, a Laverstock player was brought down in similar circumstances; the referee awarded a spot kick, which Lewis Wakeford converted for the Wiltshire side.
Sam Cant then headed in a consolation goal for the Island side.
East Cowes Vics: Ram, Ash, Berry, Gregory, Phillipson, Marsek, Sheerin, Chapman, Woodford, Cant, Snow Subs: Turner, Cousins
Vics appear almost certain to avoid relegation after 2nd-from-bottom Fleet Spurs suffered a 0-4 home defeat to Folland Sports on Tuesday evening. The East Cowes side remain 8 points clear of Spurs with just 3 games left to play. Victory against Millbrook at Beatrice Avenue on Saturday (2nd April) will ensure Vics maintain their Wessex League status for a further season.
