Servio Senior Cup Report: Cowes Sports 2-4 Saints

Josh Pitts opened the scoring with a fine effort from the edge of the area, before Cowes levelled through George Colson’s penalty just after the half hour.

Saints regained the lead before half time through Will Merry’s powerful finish but the hosts equalised again just after the break thanks to John McKie’s volley.

Composed strikes from Nick Oyekunle and Moses Sesay as the second half wore on secured Saints’ passage to the next round in style.

Saints fielded an entirely Under-18s squad, despite formally entering the tournament as Under-21s, as the young side gained vital experience against a senior Men's side for the first time as a group.

Saints' Under-18s were given a chance in the second round. (Photos: Isabelle Field)

It was a lively start at Westwood Park as the crowd turned out in force on the Isle of Wight, but Saints’ youngsters started on the front foot.

Inside a minute, Merry - the oldest outfield player in Saints’ lineup - drove down the left flank and reached the byline but blazed his shot over after cleverly cutting inside.

The hosts’ first opening fell to their captain, John McKie, whose low shot was gathered by Josh Jeffries in goal.

Pitts was looking lively from the start for Saints and fired just wide from the edge of the area with the game still barely five minutes in.

Cowes Sports’ Ryan Oatley rose highest from a corner in the ninth minute but glanced his header wide of the far post.

The game eventually settled as Saints began to contain possession for longer spells and soon found the opener in the 22nd minute.

From a short corner, Pitts collected the ball and shifted inside before arrowing a left-footed strike into the far left of the goal to silence the animated home support.

Josh Pitts celebrates opening the scoring.

There was almost an instant second as Merry had the length of the opposition half to run free one-on-one but dragged his shot wide of the target.

Saints’ lead lasted just 11 minutes, however, as Cowes were awarded a penalty just after the half hour mark when McKie was bundled over in the box; central midfielder Colson stepped up and confidently tucked the spot kick home.

Merry did get a deserved reward for his efforts as he restored the lead just before half time, driving down the left once more and powering a shot through Ed Hatt in goal.

The hosts refused to lie down, despite Saints’ control of possession, and the second equaliser of the game came just five minutes after the restart as McKie volleyed home in style after a long throw wasn’t dealt with.

As the half wore on, Saints’ youngsters resumed control and appeared to relish the atmosphere of the 811-strong crowd at Westwood Park.

In the 64th minute, a clipped pass from defence released Aston Daley on the left, who squared the ball into the path of Oyekunle to finish into the far corner and restore the lead.

The fourth goal followed in a similar fashion in the 78th minute as Merry this time sprinted clear on the breakaway and found Oyekunle, who opted for one more pass to allow Sesay to roll the ball into the same corner and wrap up the game.

Saints saw the result out in mature fashion beyond their young years and advanced to the third round of the competition after a well-battled cup tie.

Cowes Sports: Hatt, Mumford, West, Barrow, Oatley, McFarlane (Conway 70), Triggs (Ahmed 83), Colson (Cook 70), Phillips, Mckie (c) (Carter-Knight 60), Kelly (Neale 75).

Goals: Colson 33 (pen), McKie 50.

Saints: Jeffries, Okonola-Matthews (Fry 76), Moore, Dobson-Ventura (c) (Myers 63), Sheaf, Williams, Pitts, Daly, Oyekunle, Sesay, Merry (Martin 90+1).

Subs not used: Upstell.

Goals: Pitts 22, Merry 42, Oyeknule 64, Sesay 78.