Saturday 2nd March 2024
UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE – PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH
COGENHOE UNITED v MARCH TOWN UNITED
Compton Park,
Brafield Rd,
Cogenhoe.
NN7 1ND
KO 3-pm
Appropriately enough, the Cooks kick-off March with a home game against March Town with the kick-off now reverting back to 3pm as the evenings begin to stretch out with Spring just around the corner. Scott Carlin has named a seventeen strong squad for the game with Dalton Leon and Sonny Knights both back in contention after injury lay-offs, while skipper Harley Mallard and Charlie Pearson are both available again after being unavailable last weekend. The Cooks will be hoping to build on last Saturday’s 1-0 victory over GNG Oadby Town in which Jack Connor sealed the points with his second-half goal, but promotion chasing March will have different views in the game.
The Hares are in the final play-off place and with games running out, they will be pushing for a top three finish which will give them home advantage in the play-offs, while they still need a few points to ensure they finish above Newport Pagnell Town, although the top five will probably finish as such, it’s more a matter of who takes which spot come April. The Hares were in midweek action and progressed into the final of the Hinchinbrooke Cup courtesy of a 1-0 win over Biggleswade United thanks to a Joe Rider goal five minutes before the interval. Recent form hasn’t been exactly consistent though, a 0-1 defeat at St Neots followed on from a great 1-0 win over leaders Wellingborough Town which itself came after a 1-1 draw at home to bottom club Leicester Nirvana, with the point only being secured through Matthew Fry’s equaliser three minutes into stoppage time. They have lost their last two away games with a 4-2 reverse at Rugby Borough preceding the Saints game and have only one once in their previous eight games on the road.
The trip to Robingoodfellows Lane on a sunny afternoon didn’t end well for the Cooks as Danny Emmington’s 40th minute free-kick was enough to give the home side three points, although Dylan Wilson very nearly levelled late on when his shot came back off the inside of the post. The last (and only) time we have met in the league here at Compton Park ended one apiece with both teams ending the game with ten men. Jack Friend had secured the half-time lead for the Hares with his 34th minute effort, but sub Pharrell Anderson made it 1-1 on 66 minutes and that is how it stayed. However Bailey Weatherly picked up his second yellow card a minute after the equaliser and Taylor Knowles saw straight red for the visitors.
One player we won’t be seeing again at Compton Park again this season is Luke Bullement who has opted to move to our league rivals Histon. Bully has done well in his short spell at the Cooks, but missing the festive season saw him lose his starting place and as a result he has been on the bench more often than not recently, so the lure of ninety-minutes has probably been a major factor in his leaving. I wish him luck at his new club, at least until we meet on the final day of the season.
Skipper Harley Mallard returns to the squad this for the March game.
Dalton Leon is back in the squad after missing the last few games through injury.
