Match report: 25 November 2007
Hampshire County Youth League Cup

Blackfield and Langley FC U18s: 0

Cowes Sports FC U18s: 1

In a somewhat one sided contest Cowes's youngsters, having missed several excellent chances, finally broke the deadlock with just ten minutes remaining to secure their passage through to the Semi-Final of the League Cup at the expense of their Division Two hosts Blackfield & Langley.

Quite a cagey opening from both sides as the home side, who had changed their formation from 4-4-2 to 4-5-1 to try and stop their Division 1 opponents from playing. However, Cowes, with new signings Daniel Cowburn, Keelan Sainsbury, Ollie Fulljames and Hampshire Captain Adam Shepherd all looking to impress, began to take control with some neat passing football and it seemed only a matter of time before they took the lead.

They thought they had done so in the 20th minute when a flighted Joe Butcher corner from the right found Sam Yelland whose bicycle kick thumped against the Blackfield crossbar bounced down, apparently well over the goal line, then up against the crossbar and roof of the goal, with the net clearly moving, before dropping down and being cleared by the home defence, but, to the amazement of Cowes and the relief of Blackfield, the referee, former Hampshire cricketer and fast bowler, Steve Malone failed to award the goal. Was this a sign of things to come?

Joe Butcher then tried a cross to the far post when he should have shot at goal himself, another chance gone, skipper Tom Dunford and Owen Woodburn both saw shots at goal saved by the home keeper before their only chance of the half saw their centre half head over the bar unchallenged from 5 yards out.

The second half continued in much the same vain as Cowes dominated but could not finish off their great approach play. in the 49th minute Keelan Sainsbury's header hit the crossbar then just a minute later another Joe Butcher corner saw Daniel Cowburn's header rebound off the bar to Tom Dunford who surely could not miss from 3 yards out, wrong, he somehow managed to put his header over the crossbar. It was looking like it was going to be one of those days where nothing was going to go in for Cowes.

In their one attack of the second half a shot from twenty five yards saw keeper Ollie Fulljames just get enough on the ball to push it over the bar for a corner.

The Gang Warily side were then forced to change keepers due to a nose bleed, manager Adam Barsdell's instructions were to test the new keeper.

Tom Dunford thought he had made up for his earlier miss in the 74th minute when his free kick was heading for the top left corner of the goal, but the substitute keeper appeared from nowhere to push the ball away for a corner, Keelan Sainsbury then saw his shot fly over the bar a minute later before in the 80th minute another free kick, this time from Keelan Sainsbury was again superbly saved at the expense of a corner, from which, and much to the relief of Cowes, KEELAN SAINSBURY headed the young Yachtsman into a richly deserved lead from close range. Blackfields response was to send on another striker but the Islanders, despite seven minutes of injury time, managed to comfortably hold onto their advantage that sees them through to the Semi Finals of the County Youth League Cup for the third time in four years.

Team:- O.Fulljames, C.Jennings, A.Shepherd, S.Yelland, M.McDonough, M.Draper, O.Woodburn, T.Dunford(capt), J.Butcher, K.Sainsbury, D.Cowburn, Subs; S.Perfect, J.Murray, N.Riddett

Match report: Glynn Skinner