This was another good result for Shanklin & the final score doesn’t really reflect the quality of the football they played. We were also unfortunate to be missing two of our players James Douglas who has a nasty dose of the virus that is currently doing the rounds, and Tommy O’Neill who is still suffering from the knee injury that he picked up at last weeks Hampshire Cup Match against Highcliffe Hawks. We all wish you both a speedy recovery.

Shanklin dominated from the start and were passing the ball around well, but struggled to capitalise on the chances they were making for themselves.

Newchurch were very quick on the break, and making some good runs into the Shanklin half but were unable to penetrate our solid back line.

Shanklin really didn’t do themselves any favours by giving Newchurch a little too much space to play their game and playing mostly along the left wing and not using the full width of the pitch effectively.

Although it seemed that Shanklin were pretty much in control of the game, it was swings and roundabouts for most of the first half. Both sides were making runs into each others half but neither side could find the finishing touch that they both desperately wanted, until the 30^th minute when another run up to Newchurch’s 18 yard box saw a cross from the left hand side sail across into some clear space. Striker Ji Nash took full advantage by moving into position and belting the ball into the back of Newchurch’s net.

The second half was much like the first, with Newchurch battling hard to find a way past the Shanklin defence and get a much needed equaliser. Whilst Shanklin were busily trying to respond in kind and get a second goal just to solidify their lead and create a buffer for themselves. Shanklin again made some great goal scoring opportunities for themselves and were playing a terrific game of football. But this resulted in nothing more than several ‘ooh aah!’ moments for players and supporters alike, as yet another shot went just wide, hit the post or was stopped by the efforts of Newchurch’s very able goalie. There were several ‘ooh aah!’ moments at the Shanklin end too as Newchurch made some good attempts at goal too, only to be faced with a similar outcome to Shanklin’s efforts. All in all the second half remained dead-locked, with neither side able to make any headway and the match finished with a 1-0 victory for Shanklin, who move through to the next round of the Isle of Wight Cup.

Many commiserations to Newchurch, who put up a terrific fight and were unlucky not to force the match into extra time, a great effort fellas.

Well done to all the lads who, despite it not being quite as tough, exciting or nail biting as last weeks game, never the less put in a great performance. It’s nice to see a bit of consistency with the lads performance, let’s keep it up for the rest of the season.

This weeks Man of the Match award went to Lewis Bishton who always turns in a solid effort , but whose sheer work rate in this match was outstanding , well done Bish or is that Bishtrum?! (Anyone who knows Butch or Benny will get the joke).

Squad Members: Matt Gibbon, Owen Baker, Jamie Hanmore, Alex Sibley, Ben Ballard, Ryan Brenchley, Sam Lancey (Captain), Connor Kelly, Lewis Bishton, Olly Old, Finlay Jones-West, Ji Nash (1), Matt Jackson .

This was another good result for Shanklin & the final score doesn’t really reflect the quality of the football they played. We were also unfortunate to be missing two of our players James Douglas who has a nasty dose of the virus that is currently doing the rounds, and Tommy O’Neill who is still suffering from the knee injury that he picked up at last weeks Hampshire Cup Match against Highcliffe Hawks. We all wish you both a speedy recovery.

Shanklin dominated from the start and were passing the ball around well, but struggled to capitalise on the chances they were making for themselves.

Newchurch were very quick on the break, and making some good runs into the Shanklin half but were unable to penetrate our solid back line.

Shanklin really didn’t do themselves any favours by giving Newchurch a little too much space to play their game and playing mostly along the left wing and not using the full width of the pitch effectively.

Although it seemed that Shanklin were pretty much in control of the game, it was swings and roundabouts for most of the first half. Both sides were making runs into each others half but neither side could find the finishing touch that they both desperately wanted, until the 30^th minute when another run up to Newchurch’s 18 yard box saw a cross from the left hand side sail across into some clear space. Striker Ji Nash took full advantage by moving into position and belting the ball into the back of Newchurch’s net.

The second half was much like the first, with Newchurch battling hard to find a way past the Shanklin defence and get a much needed equaliser. Whilst Shanklin were busily trying to respond in kind and get a second goal just to solidify their lead and create a buffer for themselves. Shanklin again made some great goal scoring opportunities for themselves and were playing a terrific game of football. But this resulted in nothing more than several ‘ooh aah!’ moments for players and supporters alike, as yet another shot went just wide, hit the post or was stopped by the efforts of Newchurch’s very able goalie. There were several ‘ooh aah!’ moments at the Shanklin end too as Newchurch made some good attempts at goal too, only to be faced with a similar outcome to Shanklin’s efforts. All in all the second half remained dead-locked, with neither side able to make any headway and the match finished with a 1-0 victory for Shanklin, who move through to the next round of the Isle of Wight Cup.

Many commiserations to Newchurch, who put up a terrific fight and were unlucky not to force the match into extra time, a great effort fellas.

Well done to all the lads who, despite it not being quite as tough, exciting or nail biting as last weeks game, never the less put in a great performance. It’s nice to see a bit of consistency with the lads performance, let’s keep it up for the rest of the season.

This weeks Man of the Match award went to Lewis Bishton who always turns in a solid effort , but whose sheer work rate in this match was outstanding , well done Bish or is that Bishtrum?! (Anyone who knows Butch or Benny will get the joke).

Squad Members: Matt Gibbon, Owen Baker, Jamie Hanmore, Alex Sibley, Ben Ballard, Ryan Brenchley, Sam Lancey (Captain), Connor Kelly, Lewis Bishton, Olly Old, Finlay Jones-West, Ji Nash (1), Matt Jackson .

Highcliffe Hawks 1 – 2 Shanklin FC

We knew from the start that this was going to be a tough match. Highcliffe were quarter finalists last year, have won their last five matches and are top of their league.

Shanklin started out well playing attacking football from the off, but the Hawks weren’t prepared to roll over quite so easily and it was a terrific game of end to end football for the entire first half.

Shanklin dominated the majority of it but couldn’t quite make the break through they needed & Highcliffe were very quick on the break. However Shanklin’s solid back line meant that Highcliffe had no more luck than we did. The first half moved at a terrific pace, with each side constantly trying to get that all important first goal but as we approached the 30^th minute of play it looked very much like a half time draw. Then as we entered the first of seven minutes of stoppage time, Shanklin finally made the break they needed when a terrific cross landed right in front of the goal and striker Ji Nash steamed up and thumped it solidly into the back of the Hawks net leaving us 1-0 up at half time.

With the start of the second half Highcliffe fought back with determination and Shanklin often looked to be on their back foot with a lot of the play in our half.

However the hard working back line fought off all the attacks with some great support from mid-field, so much so that centre-half Owen Baker suffered no less than five injuries throughout the match from Highcliffe’s very determined strikers, but like the rest of the squad he gritted his teeth and kept on battling. No such luck for defender Tommy O’Neill who received some of the same treatment, normally he would just shrug it off , but was injured worse than he realised and ended up taking no further part in the game and was up until then putting in a terrific performance. And battle Shanklin did, in very heavy conditions with the Highcliffe pitch suffering from the recent heavy downfall and more rain threatening before match end. It was clear towards the end that both teams were extremely tired and it was looking very much like Shanklin were going to emerge 1-0 victors, when, in the second minute of stoppage time Highcliffe put on another attack and Shanklin weren’t quite quick enough to stop it and the home side equalised. The Hawks and their supporters were, naturally, extremely jubilant, but both sides quickly realised this meant some very tired lads were going to have to play another 10 minutes each way of extra time. With a last minute pep talk from the team coaches and manager & huge support from all the parents who had journeyed across with them, the lads from Shanklin kicked off the first half of extra time.

This half our lads seemed to struggle a bit and Highcliffe having gained that last minute equaliser seemed re-invigorated, however, they too were tired and a combination of that, plus Shanklin’s sheer determination not to give up meant that first half of extra time ended at 1-1. The second half was going to be a matter of who had the most stamina, and initially that looked like Highcliffe as Shanklin looked a little war weary. But all due credit to the lads, the Shanklin fighting spirit kicked in and they all dug very deep and from somewhere they found the energy to fight back and fight back decisively. They put together some moves that started splitting the Hawks apart and making space for themselves to move and pass, and this is exactly what they did, and it paid off big time when, two minute from the end a solid pass through from Olly Old found the feet of striker Matt ‘Sniffer’ Jackson, who ran along the right wing and belted the winner home amid much jubilation from Shanklin players & supporters alike. The game finished with the final score 2-1 to Shanklin but they knew they had been in a fight against a terrific opposition who should be proud of their performance despite the result.

Squad Members, Matt Gibbon, Owen Baker, Jamie Hanmore, Alex Sibley, Tommy O’Neill Ben Ballard, Ryan Brenchley, Sam Lancey (Captain), Connor Kelly, Lewis Bishton, James Douglas, Olly Old, Finlay Jones-West, Ji Nash (1), Matt Jackson (1).

P.S. A big thank you to the players and parents of Highcliffe Hawks who were extremely gracious hosts, providing after match refreshments and kindly supplying transport for players and parents to and from the ferry terminal and for giving us such a wonderful match. There was no man of the match award as every single lad put their heart and soul into the game which resulted in our victory, instead it was decided to award them a team certificate which will be laminated and put on display in the club house.