One of our Isle of Wight Wessex League sides was in action this evening (Wednesday, August 30) as Cowes Sports travelled to Whitchurch United in the first round of the Wessex League Cup.

Whitchurch United 2-6 Cowes Sports

The Yachtsmen started strong against their opponents, who ply their trade in the Wessex League Division One alongside Newport and East Cowes Vics.

Within 15 minutes, Cowes were in front after Connor Kelly burst down the left with his cross flicked on to the far post by Eli Ahmed, where George COLSON hammered home.

Ten minutes later, Kelly was causing Whitchurch problems again, as his shot seemed to be heading wide before AHMED made contact with a slide and placed it past the keeper.

The Yachtsmen stumbled a few minutes before the half-hour mark, an own goal bringing Whitchurch back into the game, only for Jez CONWAY to blast it in Cowes’ third moments later.

In the 38th, Cowes made it four after Kelly’s run from the halfway line saw him beat the defender into the box and shoot past the Whitchurch keeper.  

On the stroke of half-time, the Yachtsmen allowed the hosts back into the game for a second time, a penalty tucked away to bring them back to within two.

Cowes came out from the break looking to cancel out Whitchurch’s late first-half goal, with summer signing Ryan Oakley’s cross finding substitute George Carter-Knight 18 yards out, who saw his shot cannon off the bar.

CARTER-KNIGHT had forgotten his earlier chance by the 78th after he found the net to make it five, leaving a late Whitchurch comeback out of sight.

In the dying embers, the Yachtsmen put the result beyond doubt, Jimmy Wykes putting a great ball in the box for Harrison CATANIA to volley home.

Cowes Sports progress into the second round of the Wessex League Cup and return to Westwood this Saturday (September 2) to face league action against bottom half Blackfield and Langley.

The Yachtsmen will meet either Hamworthy Recreation or Moneyfields at home in the next round.