Saturday 18th November 2023
UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE – PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH
DAVENTRY TOWN v COGENHOE UNITED
Elderstubbs,
Browns Rd,
Daventry.
NN11 4NS
KO 3-pm
For the sixth time in eight games, the Cooks play one of the teams in the top six as their cruel run of games continues with a trip to Daventry Town who currently sit one place below the play-off places on goal-difference. Daventry have played more than most of the teams above them though, having lost seven times already, but most of these came early in the campaign and they have improved dramatically as the season has progressed. Up top they have the formidable duo of Leon Lobjoit and Nabil Shariff with the former already on 21 goals for the season from 18 games (including three hat-tricks), while the even more experienced Shariff is on 10. Last time out they were beaten 3-2 at fellow play-off chasers Yaxley with Kye Little and Oran Jackson netting their goals, but they had won their previous four including an impressive 3-1 home over Newport Pagnell at Elderstubbs. We have already met once this season with Daventry running out 5-1 winners at Compton Park with Lobjoit (2), Connor Furlong, Shariff and Ryan Bell all on the scoresheet, with a cracking finish from Callum Farmer the only consolation for the Cooks that day. They have recently signed Damien Osoimoejiokhian from the Cooks and he could well make his debut tomorrow where he joins Ashraf Masumbuko in their former Compton Park personnel, which is a bit different to the our last trip there where the majority of the home team filled that category. Daventry won 6-2 that night with all their goals coming from ex-Cogenhoe players as Luke Emery hit a hat-trick, Taylor Orosz two and Kieran Fitzgerald a single, while leading scorer Ryan Dove scored both Cogenhoe goals. Alex Lowery also put the ball in the net for the Cooks that night with the lino somehow conjuring up an offside decision to rule the ‘goal’ out in a head scratching moment that even VAR would have been hard pressed to justify. Not that it would have, made any difference as the Cooks were well beaten on the night by a very good team that were heading for the title and promotion that season.
Scott Carlin has Dylan Wilson and Kieron Mobbs back in his squad after they missed the 5-0 drubbing at Racing Club Warwick last weekend, but Farmer sits out the last game of his ban for his red card against Easington. It will be a tough game for the boys again tomorrow, so in reality even a point would be very welcome before we go into next Saturday’s game at home to bottom club Leicester Nirvana.
