Sunday September 14th Kick Off – 14:00
HAMPSHIRE COMBINATION & DEVELOPMENT LEAGUE – U18 East Division
COWES SPORTS U18 1 (1) v 5 (2) MONEYFIELDS U18
played at Westwood Park Referee:- Dave Jukes
Team:- COWES SPORTS – Owen DENNESS, Teddy MUMFORD, Szymon SADEL, Mitchell COX, Billy BACKSHALL, Rowenn CHURCHILL, William FOULSHAM, Harry SYMES, Cory SANDERSON, Finley KALAKAR, Daniel JOHNSON,
Subs:- Fred SALTER, Josh ANNETT, Edward HUMPHRIES, Judah, MOORCROFT
Westwood Park played host to Cowes Sports Under 18’s first home league game with their counterparts from Moneyfields the visitors. A tough game was expected against a good side that have been together for a while and that included several Island lads.
Moneyfields showed their intent from kick off causing the home sides midfield and defence many problems. It came as no surprise when they took an 8th minute lead when their Islander CALEB NEALE cut through the Cowes defence before slotting the ball past Owen Denness. Four minutes later and their 16 was put through on goal but keeper Owen Denness saved well at the expense of a corner. In the 18th minute Caleb Neale out paced the Cowes left side defence before crossing for ADAM AMOS to have an easy tap in to double the lead. Shortly after a Mitch Cox saw 14 fall heavily on the hard pitch and injure his right shoulder and he was replaced and whisked off to hospital for treatment. Just before the half hour and Cowes got themselves back into the game when a long clearance from Mitch Cox proved to be the perfect cross as CORY SANDERSON out jumped his marker to head home from six yards or so. That was the way the score remained till half time. H-t 1 – 2
The second half saw the young Yachtsmen play quite well, implementing the tactics talked about during half time, but unfortunately the Moneys youngsters proved to be too got with some quick movement of the ball and some very good football showing their class. On 55 minutes a third goal was added when Cowes could not deal with a long throw into the box and OLIVER MINTY-CLARK headed the ball into the net. Just past the hour mark came number four for the visitors when DAVID EVANS took full advantage of a Cowes mistake in defence to tuck past the helpless Owen Denness. Although the Cowes youngster worked hard to get back into the game Man of the Match for the home side, 15 year old Harry Symes saw his shot saved. Eight minutes from time Moneyfields completed the scoring when DAVID EVANS scored his second and the Moneys’ fifth of the afternoon.
The side from Portsmouth fully deserved their win but credit must go to the Cowes lads for not giving up and trying to play football, they were just up against a better side. Cowes now look forward to hosting Winchester City U18’s in the 1st Qualifying Round of the FA Youth Cup on Tuesday September 14th KO 7-30pm.