Cowes Sports fifth consecutive away game saw them travel to Arlebury Park, home of Alresford Town, for this Hampshire Senior Cup 2nd round tie.
The Islanders welcomed back Harry Dye and Jack Broomfield too the starting line up in place of Aidan Bryan and Callum Chase, whilst Michael McEnery and keeper Ben Gearing joined Ji Nash and Daniel Pearson on the bench.
A slow start from both sides. Ed Hatt was forced too save a cross- cum-shot, the only goal mouth action of the first 25 minutes. Ben White then smacked a 25 yard shot against the Cowes post before another effort was blasted over the bar from 6 yards as the home side began too take control. Full back Tom Ashton then set up substitute LOUIS RUSSELL, who had replaced the injured Geoff Dunn in the 18th minute, for a tap in from 3 yards on the half hour mark to give Alresford the lead. Worse was to follow for the Yachtsmen 8 minutes from the break as SAMUEL BURT doubled their advantage. Shortly before half time Cowes came close to halving the lead when Gareth Bricknell ‘s volley hit the top of the home crossbar.
Ji Nash and Michael McEnery both came on in place of Samuel Kirby and Jez Conway respectively for the second half. The Yachtsmen pulled themselves back into the tie when skipper John McKie used his pace down the right wing before pulling the ball back for GARETH BRICKNELL to fire home from 15 yards. Ji Nash then latched onto a long clearance and tried to chip the home keeper, but Dan Kempson just managed to get his finger tips to the ball before a defender cleared. On the hour mark SAMUEL BURT notched his second of the game despite looking offside, missed by the Assistant, before completing his hat trick on 68 minutes taking full advantage of the space allowed to him by the Cowes defence to shoot past Ed Hatt. With twenty minutes left Ed Hatt, who is unavailable for the weekend game, was replaced by Ben Gearing making his debut. Ten minutes from time BEN WHITE added number five before substitute IK HILL scored a sixth and final goal of the evening in the 85th minute as Cowes bowed out of the Hampshire Senior Cup.
Referee:- PETER LANE Assistants – Jacob Wright +Michael Misselbrook
TEAM:-
Ed Hatt, Conor White, Dominic Sexton, Ashley Brett, Harry Dye, Samuel Kirby, Jack Broomfield, Jez Conway, Gareth Bricknell, John McKie (c), James Wykes
Used Subs:- Ji Nash(Samuel Kirby) 46, Michael McEnery(Jez Conway) 46, Ben Gearing(Ed Hatt) 70
Unused Sub; Daniel Pearson
