MATCH REPORT - vs West Wight FC
Cowes Sports 5 - 1 West Wight FC
Date: Tuesday 26th November 2024
Location: The Zilch Waste Stadium, Cowes
The IOW Senior Gold Cup Quarter Final came early this year as we faced an experienced West Wight side full of ex-Yachtsmen looking to come and cause an upset. With all the welcome backs and handshakes aside, it was down to business at the kick-off whistle where West Wight looked to setup in a defensive manner with Cowes happy to take possession of the ball comfortably.
With everything looking cosy for the Yachtsmen, it only took one corner at the 16th minute for West Wight to use their aerial dominance and win the header to make it 1-0, a surprise for everyone in the ground it felt like as the atmosphere turned quiet. West Wight very happy with their goal returned to their setup of defend first and counter if possible with Cowes having numerous chances to try and bring the scoreline back level without success.
A mistake by the West Wight defence allowed George Carter-Knight a chance on the 25th minute to take possession of the ball just inside the 18 yard box where he didn’t need to do much to adjust and slot it past the oncoming keeper. Cowes relieved to finally get the goal they had been looking for to bring it level, where they then proceeded to dominate possession for the remaining time in the half.
Knowing that penalties would come if the score remained a draw, West Wight looked to play for their draw while Cowes took it another level with their intensity picking out the wide men and attackers as soon as possible. West Wight defenders were putting their bodies on the line and the veteran keeper Joe McCormack was having a solid display too, this would have easily frustrated most teams but Cowes knew that if they kept working on what they believe in, the goal would come.
In the 68th minute the goal did come, a corner on the left side was whipped in beautifully as normal by Carter-Knight where Ryan Oatley charged forwards from the edge of the box and leaped to win the header and smash it just under the bar and in. Seeing as West Wight had dominated the air all game this was a very welcome goal surprising most too.
From here on it was clear that the Yachtsmen were going to get more goals, having peppered West Wight for 35 mins of the half now the gaps were showing and the West Wight legs were tired. On the 81st minute Jimmy Mumford continued with what he learnt throughout the game and took the ball goalwards from left back where he positioned himself 22-24 yards away from goal and with a very well placed shot, placed the ball into the top right corner leaving the keeper with no chance, 3-1 to Cowes.
Here it was just a matter of West Wight hanging on as much as they could, but to no prevail. Some quick thinking at a corner on the right side allowed Carter-Knight and Cook to play a quick one, allowing Carter-Knight to drift straight into the box where he slotted it calmly into the front post corner on the 86th minute, 4-1.
The final goal of the game came in the 90th minute where some nice piece of play on the right side from Dempsey allowed McKie to receive the ball and play a nice through ball behind the West Wight defence into the feet of Conway just outside the left of the 18 yard box semi-circle. With a small adjustment of his feet, Conway slotted the ball to the right hand corner giving Cowes 5 goals to the good.
Cowes feeling very happy with their patience in creating the chances now move into the Semi-Final of the IOW Senior Gold Cup where they await the draw on who their opponents may be.
Goals:
Cowes - Carter-Knight (26’, 86’), Oatley (68’), Mumford (81’), Conway (90’)
West Wight - NA
Next Up: Cowes take a trip for the first time to Hamworthy Recreation where they face a strong side