Three in a row! The Yachtsmen see off Vics in Gold Cup final thriller

Cowes Sports have made it a hattrick of Isle of Wight (Senior) Gold Cup wins, beating old rivals East Cowes Vics in this afternoon’s final at Westwood Park (Saturday, May 10).

The Yachtsmen, who finished a comfortable 12th in the Wessex Premier, went into the game as favourites, with home advantage, aiming to make it wins in 2023, 2024 and 2025.

However, Vics came into the match on a high after securing promotion to the Wessex Premier last Saturday.

Cowes Sports 2-1 East Cowes Vics

It took less than a minute for Vics to draw first blood through striker Scott Jones.

Jones danced his way through a crowded Cowes box and calmly slotted home past Ed Hatt, giving the underdogs a dream start.

Scott Jones opens the scoring for Vics (Image: Paul Blackley)

But the Yachtsmen responded in style just moments later.

On six minutes, Scott MacFarlane whipped in a curling ball from the right that wrong-footed keeper Alex Ram with a deflection and nestled inside the far post to level the score.

Vics nearly retook the lead in the 18th minute when captain Liam Newbold met a cross with a towering header, only to see it drift narrowly over.

The Yachtsmen made them pay soon after.

In the 21st minute, Finley Phillips delivered a pinpoint free kick to the back post, where former Vics skipper Callum Chase ghosted in unmarked and smashed Cowes into the lead from close range.

Former Vics skipper Callum Chase smashes in from close range to put Cowes in the lead (Image: Paul Blackley)

The Yachtsmen controlled much of the remainder of the half, carving out several half-chances.

Meanwhile, Vics struggled to mount a coherent response, often resorting to hopeful long balls.

Tensions flared late in the first period, with several bookings handed out, including one for Vics skipper Newbold after a clumsy challenge.

From the resulting set piece, John McKie came close to extending Cowes’ lead, forcing a smart save from Ram low to his right.

Moments later, Hatt preserved the 2-1 lead with a crucial near-post stop from Jones.

The second half was a more methodical affair, with both teams tightening up defensively and limiting clear chances.

Callum Chase celebrates the Yachtsmen’s second (Image: Paul Blackley)

Hatt was again called into action ten minutes after the restart, diving to deny a Vics header from a long Harrison Yates throw-in.

As the clock ticked down, the match seemed destined to fizzle out – until a tense final ten minutes reignited the drama.

In the 81st minute, Vics earned a dangerous free kick, whipped in by Zac Sullivan.

His delivery was met by a Cowes defender who cleared just over his own bar.

Then, in the 87th minute, Yachtsmen Jimmy Mumford was brought down on the edge of the area by Toby Snow.

Ryan Oatley’s last minute chance smashes off the underside of the bar (Image: Paul Blackley)

Jake Wright’s resulting free kick was parried low by Ram, and Ryan Oatley pounced on the rebound, but his effort cannoned off the underside of the bar and was scrambled clear in a frantic moment that could have sealed the game.

Vics pushed desperately in stoppage time, but couldn’t find a way through the Cowes back line, who stood resolute until the final whistle.

Cowes Sports celebrate their third successive Gold Cup win (Image: IWCP)