Saturday 11th December 2021
UHLSPORT UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE-PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH
EYNESBURY ROVERS v COGENHOE UNITED
Alfred Hall Memorial Ground,
Hall Road,
Eynesbury.
PE19 2SF
KO 3-pm
Although we have been regular visitors to Eynesbury over the years, this will be our first trip to The Alfred Hall Memorial Park since the 1-1 draw on the 8th December 2018 as our hosts have spent the last two campaigns playing in the Spartan South Midlands League after a voluntary switch. Skipper Luke Stone had given the Cooks the lead on 24 minutes with a calm finish from a few yards inside the box, but it was level again five minutes later when Danny Draper netted at the far post after Stuart Lutter had saved well from Jordan Brown. I think it’s fair to say that Eynesbury weren’t exactly elated by the F.A decision to move them back across the pyramid in the summer, especially as manager Steve Khune had built a squad of players from their new surroundings and the former Cooks striker called time on his spell in the hot seat following the 3-1 defeat we inflicted on them at Compton Park. Former professional Rob Sinclair took over the reins, although the transition period didn’t see immediate effects as they lost their next five games although there has been a glimmer of a recovery with a point from a goalless draw at home to Rothwell Corinthians followed by a Hall Road win over G.N.G Oadby Town, but their last three games have all ended in defeat. It must be said though that there were a couple of tough ones in there. A 2-0 reverse at Bugbrooke ended the mini-unbeaten run, then a 0-4 home defeat to leaders Hinckley LRFC was followed by a 5-1 drubbing at second place Harborough Town.
Saturday’s defeat really wasn’t helped by a double sending off with Luke Knight departing after just 15 minutes and then Tom Hitchcock joining him on the sidelines after picking up a second yellow card on 62. The game at Compton Park ended 3-1 in favour of the Cooks as previously mentioned and I have to say this was one of our best performances of the season so far. Dylan Wilson gave us the lead after 29 minutes and although we continued to dominate the play, we had to wait until the 64th minute before Archie Culley added a second after Wilson had hit the bar. Josh Brown pulled one back with a good finish on 70 minutes to make things a little interesting, but a great turn and finish from Tom Wakley finally put the game to bed in stoppage time.
The Alfred Hall Memorial Ground hasn’t been a particularly happy hunting ground for the Cooks since Eynesbury returned to the Premier Division, with just one win in five visits and that one coming back in November 2014.
Last five matches at Eynesbury…
| 2018-19 | D 1-1 | Luke Stone |
| 2017-18 | L 2-4 | Ryan Dove, Luis Vieira |
| 2016-17 | L 0-3 | |
| 2015-16 | D 0-0 | |
| 2014-15 | W 1-0 | Dean Lukeman |
UHLSPORT UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE-RESERVE DIVISION
COGENHOE UNITED Reserves v DESBOROUGH TOWN Reserves
Compton Park,
Brafield Rd,
Cogenhoe.
NN7 1ND
KO 3-pm.
If you are unable to make the trip to Eynesbury on Saturday, the perfect back-up is the Reserves home fixture against fellow Northamptonshire club Desborough Town. Ar Tarn are already familiar to the Cooks Reserves having already played them twice with the visitors currently 16-2 ahead on aggregate, so we can expect a tough game again tomorrow. Hopefully Brian Farrell won’t be available tomorrow for the visitors as he has put the ball into our net nine times already, netting four in the 6-1 league win, then going one better with five in the N.F.A Junior Cup tie which the home side won 10-1. Desborough haven’t been beaten in any of their last nine games and this included a recent 10-0 win over Huntingdon in which Farrell bagged a hat-trick and the former S&L striker now has 37 goals from his 18 appearances so far this season.
The Cooks have seen a change in form of late and although they narrowly lost 3-2 at Whitworth last Saturday, they had won their previous two games by that scoreline. Will Russell and Shad Reza were both on target in Wellingborough and it has to be said we have added bolstered our squad somewhat since the humiliating cup defeat and we are sure to be keen to erase some of that memory with a solid performance in front of our home support.
