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Winchester City Res 4 Cowes Sports Res 2
City’s Reserve side retained their 100% start to the season with an impressive victory at home to Cowes Sports, despite a number of players travelling with the first team to their FA Cup fixture at Flackwell Heath.
City started brightly and Tom Riddell put the first opportunity wide within the first two minutes. The bright start paid off after only 10 minutes. Rick Staples hit a long cross field ball, which was taken in his stride by Nick Craig, who took one touch before playing the ball over the keeper for Riddell to run in and head home at the far post.
The Island side came back into the game and equalised after Dean Smith gave the ball away on the halfway line. The right winger played the ball down the line for the speedy centre forward, who beat Joe Wright to the goal line crossed where Nick Staples was unfortunate to stab the ball beyond Harvey in goal.
Cowes had the lions share of possession in the run up to half time, and almost took the lead but Matt Burke cleared the ball off the line.
City began the second half with a great tempo, with good passing and movement. Only 5 minutes after the restart Matt Palmer collected the ball from Nick Craig and smashed the ball into the bottom left hand corner from fully 25 yards out. City were fully on top, with Shane Lewis bombing up and down the right wing. On 55 minutes Matt Burke turned provider when his cross from the right wing was met by Nick Craig coming in from the opposite flank to fire a bullet header past the Cowes keeper.
Some 20 minutes later, Elliott Goater’s delightful chip over the defence allowed Riddell to run through and lob the keeper from 15 yards. Cowes proved their fighting spirit and battled back, hitting the bar from a corner before they got their reward in the 85th minute when the centre forward hooked the ball over his head and over Will Harvey.
City: Harvey, Lewis, Smith, Goater, Wright, Staples, Palmer, Burke, Riddell, Butcher, Craig.
Subs: Esfanidari, Hancock, Law.
Attendance 60
Document last updated: 09/09/2008
