Cowes Sports will face East Cowes Victoria in the Isle of Wight Senior (Gold) Cup final after overcoming Island league Ventnor at Beatrice Avenue by a single goal yesterday evening (Wednesday).
This will be the first time the 2 sides from opposite banks of the Medina have locked horns in a Gold Cup final since 2012.
The Yachtsmen dominated possession but only succeeded in breaking down the Ventnor defence once, in part due to an outstanding performance from the South Wight side’s goalkeeper Rio Barratt.
The game began with some long-range efforts from Ventnor with Charlie Urry, Martin Barrow and Charlie Urry all shooting over the crossbar. At the other end of the pitch, Jake Wright shot the ball across the face of the goal.
The breakthrough for the Yachtsmen came in the 14th minute when Jordan Browne laid on Scott McFarlane, who rounded Barratt before dispatching the ball into the empty goal (1-0).
Cowes failed to add to their lead when Jake Wright and George Carter Knight both blasted the ball over the crossbar, after which Rio Barratt made a superb double-save to keep the deficit to just 1 goal.
On the half hour mark, Ventnor had a vociferous appeal for a penalty denied when captain Emerson Tattersall was brought down in the penalty area.
The first half finished with a flurry of shots from the Yachtsmen, which either went high and wide or were saved by Barratt.
Half time: Cowes Sports 1-0 Ventnor
The 2nd half began with Flynn Jackman replacing Jake Wright.
The Yachtsmen continued to dominate, with Charlie Marsek having a goal disallowed and Jackman volleying over the crossbar.
Ventnor had a rare scoring opportunity when Emerson Tattersall turned and shot from a corner but had his effort comfortably saved by Ed Hatt in the Cowes goal.
On the hour mark, John McKie replaced George Carter-Knight for Cowes, but even he was unable to extend the Wessex Premier side’s lead (and was booked for a late sliding tackle).
In the 74th minute, the Yachtsmen’s centre forward Jordan Browne attempted a bicycle kick at a corner, which missed the target.
Cowes continued to press, but a lack of cutting edge in the final third of the pitch and the heroics of Barratt prevented the Wessex League side from registering an emphatic victory.
Full time: Cowes Sports 1-0 Ventnor
Cowes Sports: Hatt, Hughes, Dempsey, Chase, Oatley (c), Wright, Carter-Knight, Cook, Browne, McFarlane, Marsek Subs: Jackman, McKie, Coshell, Isupov, Phillips
Ventnor: Barratt, S. Mulholland, Illman, Berry, Lamb, Knowles, H. Mulholland, Barrow, Urry, Barsdell, Tattersall (c) Subs: R. Gee, L. Mulholland, Page
After the game, Ventnor manager Gary Gee said:
“So proud of the lads today. We set up knowing we would concede most of possession against a superior side. We stuck to our game plan and worked our socks off. Can’t ask for more.”
Cowes co-manager Mark Woodhouse commented:
“It’s a win. And that’s all we needed to get through to the final. We really wanted that final against Vics.
“”We got the early goal. We probably should have done better in possession, but we won the game.
“We know there have been slip-ups in the past. Vics have lost to West Wight and Brading. We didn’t want to add our name to that list.
“Ventnor worked hard; they’ve got some quality players. Neo Lamb was outstanding. Emerson Tattersall is always a threat, and Charlie Urry’s got experience, so the lads managed the game well.
“Finishing should have been been better, but we’re through to the final now.”
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