Tuesday 5th March 2024
UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE – PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH
COGENHOE UNITED v AYLESTONE PARK
Compton Park,
Brafield Rd,
Cogenhoe.
NN7 1ND
KO 7-45 pm
It is a case of third time lucky (hopefully) as we play the already twice postponed home game against promotion chasers Aylestone Park in a rare midweek match under the Compton Park lights. We can expect a tough game against a side who have almost sealed a play-off place already but will also be hoping for a few slip-ups at Wellingborough and Warwick that could see them sneak top spot should they end the season well themselves. The Cooks may not be in a place to threaten the play-offs this season, but considering that they lost the bulk of the squad in the summer, Biff and Batts have done a great rebuilding job and will be looking to finish in the top half of the table, something that is very achievable with a good run in.
Recent form has been impressive, with the only defeats in their last 17 games both being against leaders Wellingborough Town with the most recent a 0-3 defeat at Linwood Playing Fields. The Cooks sat out another frustrating weekend just gone when the heavy rain put paid to any chances of getting the game on against March Town (this will now be played on Wednesday 13th March with a 7-45pm kick-off). There was no such disappointment for Aylestone Park though as their game at Newport Pagnell did survive the rain of the previous few days and it was our opponents tonight who thoroughly enjoyed their day with a thumping 5-1 win against the team sitting one place below the play-offs. Sam Hollis gave them the lead from the edge of the box on 13 minutes and a mistake by the keeper saw Corey Bucalossi’s corner go straight in to double the lead a minute before the break. The dressing room mood was to change though as Callum Westwood converted Nat Gosnal-Tyler’s cross a minute later to make the score 1-2 at the break. Park restored their two-goal margin five minutes into the second half when Hollis fired home his second and Newport’s afternoon got even worse when James Sneddon was shown a straight red card and the visitors used the man advantage well as they extended their lead through Alfie Bessadi in the 65th minute and substitute Hamza Elkhouly rounded things off with a cool finish three minutes from time.
Saturday’s win lifted them above Racing Club Warwick who drew 1-1 at fellow promotion chasers St Neots, but the title will belong to Wellingborough if they keep their cool as they are now seven points clear at the top, but the chasing pack can add extra pressure onto the Doughboys if they can keep winning themselves. The win in Newport was their third on the spin and with just one defeat in their last 16 league games, they will be confident of extending that run at Compton Park. The Cooks themselves have put in some very good performances at home against some of the top teams with only St Neots winning here so far by that single first-half penalty, while we held runaway leaders Wellingborough 1-1 and beat then leaders Warwick 3-2, so they won’t be phased by the opposition in what we hope will be an entertaining game of football,
Biff has once again named a strong squad for this game and has the call on the talented youngsters Josh Rayfield and Matty Ireland who Cobblers U18s manager Shane Goddard has made available again. Both have really impressed as they make their first steps into the men’s game and they join their Cobblers teammate Jamari Hart in the squad. while injured duo Sonny Knights and Dalton Leon are fit again and may also feature.
Matty Ireland is back in the squad for the game against Aylestone Park.
