Sunday November 7th Hampshire Combination & Development League U18
GOSPORT BOROUGH U18 7 (3) v 0 (0) COWES SPORTS U18
played at Gosport Sports Centre (3G pitch) Kick Off – 2pm Referee – P. Cox
Team:- COWES SPORTS U18 – Sol CARSON, Billy BACKSHALL, Rowenn CHURCHILL, Josh ANNETT, Daniel DRUDGE, Daniel JOHNSON, Jamie TROWBRIDGE, Mark ROBERTSON, Kyle KILROY, Cory SANDERSON (c), William FOULSHAM, Sub:- Finley CRACKNELL
Manager Jacob Toms was unable to travel as he was self isolating due to Covid whilst Harry Symes and Teddy Mumford had picked up injuries and Mitchell Cox had to work therefore only 12 players were present to take on a strong Gosport team.
A fairly slow start to the game by both sides for the first ten minutes. Then skipper Cory Sanderson was incorrectly sin binned for something said to one of his own players, which the Referee took to be aimed at him. This prompted the home side to begin to dominate. Around the 14th minute Gosport had the ball in the Cowes net but the ‘goal’ was ruled out by an offside flag. Cowes battled well to try and stop the home side whilst being a man down and almost succeeded in keeping them at bay. Unfortunately an 18th minute corner was headed into the net by a home player. Gosport then doubled their advantage on 26 minutes when Cowes failed to get a decent tackle in and a second goal was scored. A couple of minutes later and Cowes had the chance to test the home keeper but Jamie Trowbridge sent his free kick just over the crossbar. Rowenn Churchill then went close when his header from a Cory Sanderson corner flashed across the face of goal but went the wrong side of the post from Cowes’ point of view. Right on the stroke of half time Gosport added a third goal with a shot across Sol Carson into the left corner of his goal. H-t 3 – 0
Four minutes into the second half and the Cowes defence allowed a home forward to cut in from the left before firing past the helpless Sol Carson to make it 4 – 0. Cowes did not give up and tried hard to find away back into the game. Mark Robertson sped down the right before sending the ball across the face of the home goal but wide of the target before skipper Cory Sanderson was allowed to drive forward, but again failed to hit the target. The home side had several good chances to increase their lead but some very poor finishing and some excellent saves by Sol Carson meant that Gosport had to wait until the final ten minutes before making their superiority show. In the 80th minute, with Cowes looking rather tired a home forward was allowed to run though the defence before adding a fifth goal. Shortly after that became six and finally five minutes from time Finley Cracknell fouled one of the home substitutes in the box . Their full back got up to beat Sol Carson from 12 yards to complete the scoring and condemn Cowes to their third straight league defeat of the season.
Hopefully the lads though will learn from each game and come back stronger. Their next game sees them travel to Bournemouth in the Hampshire Cup to take on Moordown & Southbourne.