Tuesday 21st September 2021
N.F.A HILLIER SENIOR CUP-1ST ROUND
WELLINGBOROUGH TOWN v COGENHOE UNITED
Dog & Duck Ground,
London Rd,
Wellingborough.
NN8 2DP
KO 7-45 pm
Cogenhoe travel to The Dog & Duck for the second time this season, this time in the first round of the county cup. We know this will be a tough game for the lads having been beaten there in the league as a goal from former Cogenhoe player Jack O’Connor early in the second half proved to be the only goal of the game. The match was pretty even overall with both sides having decent spells, but that near post header from a corner was our undoing and we couldn’t beat former Cooks keeper Josh McAdoo on the day. The Dougbhoys are in excellent form having won their last six league games after losing their first three and currently sit 7th in the table, but just one point behind third placed Eynesbury. The county cup though is different kettle of fish especially as so many managers make changes aplenty from their previous league game as they see this competition as a chance to give the current fringe players a chance to shine.
As I included a run-down of all our recent clashes at the Dog & Duck on the preview of the league game a few weeks ago, I won’t repeat them for this cup match. The Doughboys were impressive 2-1 winners over former leaders Coventry Sphinx last Saturday with a Lloyd Buckby penalty and a Jack O’Connor header earning the points, whilst Darren Long will be aiming for a repeat of his first game in charge at the weekend when Dylan Wilson headed home the only goal of the game at Easington Sports with ten minutes remaining. Wilson is in good form at this moment having scored in each of his last three games, bringing his tally up to five for the season.
Thursday 23rd September 2021
NORTHANTS SENIOR YOUTH LEAGUE-SOUTH
COGENHOE UNITED U18 v CRANFIELD UNITED U18
Compton Park,
Brafield Rd,
Cogenhoe.
NN7 1ND
KO 7-45 pm
Chris Hewett and Gary Fletcher will take charge of the U18s as they get back to league action looking for their first points of the season. Cranfield United are the team trying to ensure that happens and after losing their first two games, they are certainly back on track now after winning their last two which sees them occupy third place in the table. They kicked-off the season with potentially the toughest game they will face, a trip to Bugbrooke and they ended up on the wrong end of an 8-2 scoreline. They then lost 4-1 at Kempston Rovers, but started to find their feet on their return to the NSYL as they defeated Irchester United 3-2 and followed this up last week with a convincing 3-0 win at home to Biggleswade Town. Their current place will probably be a false one at this early stage of the season as they have played more games than everyone else which is largely down to the fact that they didn’t play in the F.A Youth Cup. The Cranes first team play in the Bedfordshire League these days and probably grace the best ground of any first team in that league. They have been working hard on both the pitch and the ground recently too so I am looking forward to our trip to Crawley Road later in the season. The Cranes have returned to the league this season after a gap of several years and are a very welcome addition, especially as the number of member clubs has declined again recently, but this season does look a little stronger.
The Cooks have played just once and lost that game at Whitworth 4-3, which means they currently sit in 9th spot with just Irchester below them on goal-difference, but Harpole and O.N Chenecks have yet to start their seasons (assuming they are going to) so the table really doesn’t mean that much just yet. For the Cooks it is important we get that first league win and this is the perfect opportunity to wash away the memory of last Thursday’s F.A Youth cup defeat here against Bugbrooke St Michaels.
