WATCH the Isle of Wight wonder goal that has taken the web by storm

The first 20 minutes were poor, with neither side comfortable on the ball, let alone able to stamp any authority on the game, with a powerful Ashley Brett header for Cowes, which cleared the bar, the only high point.  

Cowes Sports captain Gareth Bricknell in action against Andover New Street on Saturday.  Photo: Paul Blackley

Then as if a switch was flicked, Cowes came alive.

Player-boss John McKie cut inside from the right, but shot tamely at the Andover keeper on 22 minutes.

Two minutes later, Cowes took the lead — a superb goal by McKIE, who received the ball on the left from a cleared cross 20 yards out, looked up and lifted the ball perfectly into the top corner, with the keeper stranded. 

Player-manager John McKie leading from the front.  Photo: Paul Blackley

McKie's amazing goal was posted on the Grassroots Football UK soccer page on Facebook straighht after the game and was viewed 900 times in the first 15 minutes of being on it.

As of this morning (Monday), it has been viewed more than 10,000 times.

View the footage of the wonder goal, courtesy of Cowes Sports, below:

After battering Andover’s goal in search of a second, that same switch was flicked and Cowes lost their shape in midfield, which allowed the visitors to hit back.

Poor defensive errors allowed Andover chances and they could have led 3-1 at the break, but for poor finishing, and stayed a goal down.

But in the 49th minute, Andover, a constant threat on the break, equalised with a scuffed shot by Lock after he cut inside two Cowes players.

After a superb Ed Hatt save and a number of last-ditch challenges and blocks, Cowes restricted Andover to the one goal.

Yachtsmen keeper Ed Hatt pulls off a superb save to keep the scores level against bottom side Andover New Street.  Photo: Paul Blackley

The Yachtsmen could have scored themselves, with McKie having a shot smothered by the keeper, while Callum Watkins saw his drive deflected just wide.

After the game, McKie said: “I was so proud of what the players did. In the first half, our tempo, movement and control of the game was outstanding.

“In the second half we were a little leggy and weren’t at the standard we had set in the first half.

Cowes forward Callum Watkins unleashes a powerful strike, which was deflected just wide of the Andover goal. Photo: Paul Blackley

“Having said that, the boys never gave up and we had chances to win it.

“We stay positive — a point’s a point and we move out of the bottom two and prepare for next week.”

Cowes move up a place to 18th — a point ahead of Bemerton Heath Harlequins, who have four games in hand over the Yachtsmen.

Cowes Sports: Hatt, Adams, Conway, Chase, Brett, Broomfield, Appell, Watkins, McKie, Bricknell (capt), Vyse. Subs: Allen, Furmidge, Coode, McFarlane, Thurman.

Cowes captain Gareth Bricknell nutmegs an Andover player. Photo: Paul Blackley