EAST COWES VICTORIA 0 HAMWORTHY UNITED 4
SYDENHAMS WESSEX LEAGUE CUP ( ROUND 3) TUES-12-07
The Hammers overcame the long trip, and difficult playing conditions to march into the next round of the cup that they won in their first season in the league four years ago. Hamworthy were without one or two of their key players, but it gave Phil Simkin the opportunity to look at some of his other squad members. The game was played in freezing conditions on not the best of pitches which made playing conditions difficult.
United had the better of the early exchanges, and should have taken the lead after five minutes when the usually reliable Nathan Walker headed wide with the goal at his mercy. What the Vics lacked in skill they made up for in some robust tackling, but this often resulted in a foul which was punished by the Referee with a free kick to the Hammers, and several yellow cards for the Home Side. East Cowes held out for nineteen minutes before Ryan Dovell threaded a pass through to Lee Thomas playing his second game for United. The very quick striker outpaced the home defence to slot the ball home for the first of his three goals. It took him just two minutes to increase the lead, this time volleying home from the penalty spot a lobbed pass from Richard Jackson. The Vics continued to defend in depth, and gave Gary Smart in the Hamworthy goal few problems to deal with in attack, and so the score remained 2-0 to the Hammers at the break.
East Cowes had their best spell of the match in the ten minute period following the interval putting Hamworthy under pressure for the first time. First Gary Smart did well to push a fierce shot onto the cross bar before it was cleared, and then shortly afterwards the Vics again hit the woodwork. United needed to score another goal to put the game to bed, and did so with another goal from Lee Thomas giving him his hat-trick. This time the United striker took full advantage of a bad back pass to collect the ball, run on, and score Hamworthy’s third goal. If Thomas was not already assured of Man of the Match status he certainly earned it when he turned provider for the fourth. He collected the ball on the far left wing, and after going passed his man laid on the perfect pass for debutant Darrell Williams running through middle to hit low into the net. Mike Hubbard missed a glorious chance right at the end of play to make it five, but blazed over from short range in front of an empty goal.
Team: G.Watson, S. Gilbert, M. Grimason, R. Middleton, N. Walker, M. Dean, R. Dovell (G.Horlock), M.Hubbard, K. Middleton (D. Williams), L. Thomas, R. Jackson(R.Norris.)