Yachtsmen sail through to Gold Cup final after hitting Seasiders for six

COWES Sports made a powerful statement of intent in the Isle of Wight Senior (Gold) Cup semi-final by giving Shanklin the blues.

COWES SPORTS 6, SHANKLIN 0

The Yachtsmen, the Gold Cup's defending champions, will face Newport in the final — a repeat of last year — and will go in as firm favourites.

Shanklin, in a rebuilding phase after winning the Island League Division 1 title, had done well to reach the semi-finals after a relatively poor season by their usual high standards — and were the clear underdogs going into this tough tie at Beatrice Avenue, East Cowes, last night (Thursday).

But it was the Seasiders who started the better — forcing Cowes keeper Ed Hatt into a smart save from a back post header.

Then Shanklin were left one-on-one after a thumping clearance, but Jimmy Mumford defended well to prevent a shock lead.

Scott McFarlane then had a couple of chances for Cowes, but failed to finish.

But the deadlock was broken on 21 minutes. A corner by Connor Kelly, drilled to the back post, was headed back into the six-yard box for Liam Triggs to smash home.

Cowes doubled their lead in the most fortunate of circumstances on 40 minutes, when a cross to the back post was fumbled by the keeper, who dropped it onto the chest of John McKie and watched the ball agonisingly roll in.

Shanklin, 2-0 down and with a mountain to climb in the second half, were under the cosh quickly after the restart.

And ten minutes in, a free kick from just outside the Shanklin penalty area, was coolly side-footed into the corner by McKie for his second, to make it 3-0.

Kelly showed his class 15 minutes later when Fin Phillips picked the ball up in the centre circle, played it over the right back's head onto his run to slot it past the keeper for 4-0.

McKie — who loves the Gold Cup — completed his hat-trick with a precise first-time shot into the bottom corner, from an Oatley pass, three minutes later.

Salter completed the rout with a couple of minutes left on the clock.

A date for the Gold Cup final has yet to be fixed.