Cowes Sports will face Newport in this year’s Isle of Wight Senior (Gold) Cup final.
Newport reached the final in the conventional manner by beating East Cowes Victoria on penalties after drawing 2-2 over 90 minutes.
However, Cowes Sports are through to the final after their opponents – Isle of Wight champions Whitecroft & Barton Sports – dramatically pulled out of tomorrow evening’s semi final at the Zilch Waste Stadium.
The Yachtsmen also reached the semi final stage of the competition without playing a competitive game after Island League opponents Ventnor had withdrawn their team from the competition.
Cowes Sports have issued the following statement:
“Cowes Sports would like to announce that Whitecroft and Barton have pulled out of our semi final game, therefore we have progressed to the final. We as a club are disappointed we’ve got to the final this way as we relish playing Gold Cup games against island league teams as it showcases local talent and they are usually a great watch for the neutral fan.
“We look forward to facing Newport in the final. A date, time and venue to be announced in due course.
“The club will be making no further comment on the matter.”
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YOUNG YACHTSMEN BATTLE HARD IN DEFEAT AT MILLBROOK
Cowes Sports were beaten 3-0 by Millbrook in the Wessex Premier yesterday evening, but a youthful Yachtsmen side earned praise for a determined performance.
With several regular players unavailable, Cowes handed opportunities to a number of younger squad members as they travelled to face the Dockers. New loanee Freddie Milton and 16 year old Otto West were both handed their debuts.
The visitors competed well throughout much of the first half and kept Millbrook at bay for long periods. However, the hosts eventually made the breakthrough in first-half stoppage time when Fuller found the net to give the Dockers the lead (1-0).
Half Time: Millbrook 1-0 Cowes Sports
Millbrook extended their advantage during the second half when Batley struck to make it 2-0 as the more experienced home side began to take control of the game.
Cowes continued to work hard and remained competitive, but Millbrook sealed the victory deep into stoppage time when Hills added a third goal for the Dockers (3-0).
Full Time: Millbrook 3-0 Cowes Sports
Cowes Sports: Ram, S Backshall, Haward, Flood, Milton, Hiorns, Phillips (c), Perrin, Taylor, West, Cruttenden Subs: Dempsey, Long, B Backshall, Cooch.
After the game, Cowes manager Mark Woodhouse said:
“Millbrook were good value for the win. They were more experienced and better than us.
This is why we have under-18s football at our club because we believe in giving young lads an opportunity. What a great example of boys stepping into Wessex League football and really grasping the opportunity.
I’m really proud of all the lads, because that could have been a rough night. They’ve dug in, they’ve been brave and we’ve had chances.
The young lads will get many, many more opportunities at the club. We’re really proud of them.”
Cowes remain 16th in the Wessex Premier with 28 points from 25 games.
VICS BESTED BY BULLDOGS AFTER LATE GOALS
East Cowes Victoria suffered a 3-1 Wessex Premier defeat in Salisbury at the hands of Laverstock & Ford yesterday evening despite taking an early lead.
With injuries and absences mounting, Vics manager Alex Smith called on James Flux, Macca Barnes and Sam Kirby to strengthen the squad, with Flux and Barnes both named in the starting line-up.
The Vics began brightly and were awarded a penalty in the 11th minute after a Laverstock defender was judged to have handled a Charlie Hart cross, much to the frustration of the home supporters. Jake Wright stepped up and calmly converted from the spot to give the Islanders the lead (0-1).
Seven minutes later, Caleb Neale made a promising run into the area but pulled his effort wide as the visitors continued to threaten.
Laverstock gradually grew into the game and on 24 minutes, George Bridi was forced into action, producing a good save with his legs to deny the hosts. Another effort flashed wide of the near post on 32 minutes as the pressure increased.
Just when it looked as though Vics would carry their advantage into the break, Fraser Colmer curled a superb effort from the edge of the area beyond Bridi on 41 minutes to bring the hosts level (1-1).
Half Time: Laverstock & Ford 1-1 East Cowes Victoria
Two minutes after the restart, Barnes was shown a yellow card after being adjudged to have dived in the penalty area. However, he remained influential and on 60 minutes, produced a fine pass that set up Toby Snow, whose shot was saved by Laverstock goalkeeper Roberts.
The Vics suffered another setback on 74 minutes when the lively Aedan Coode was forced off with a hamstring injury.
A minute later, the hosts took the lead when a cross from captain Bourner deflected cruelly into the net off defender Tommy Jackson (2-1).
Vics pushed forward in search of an equaliser but Barnes was later shown a second yellow card, reducing the Islanders to 10 men.
Deep into stoppage time, Bridi sliced an attempted clearance straight to Tommy Campbell-Smith, who rolled the ball into an empty net to seal the win (3-1).
Full Time: Laverstock & Ford 3-1 East Cowes Victoria
East Cowes Victoria: Bridi, Flux, Snow, Wheeler, Yates, Wright (c), Barnes, Coode, Hart, J Neale, C Neale Subs: Wrag, Wye, Kirby, Jackson, Pitman
Defeat leaves Vics 13th in the Wessex Premier with 33 points from 26 games.
Vics now turn their attention to Saturday’s long trip to Sherborne in Dorset.
Newport’s game away to Fleetlands was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.
