Saturday 12th August 2023
UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE – PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH
DESBOROUGH TOWN v COGENHOE UNITED
SG Pathway Academy Arena,
Waterworks Field,
Braybrooke Rd,
Desborough
NN14 2LJ
KO 3-pm
The Cooks are on the road again tomorrow, albeit a much shorter trip to the north of the county to face Desborough Town at the SG Pathway Academy Arena as we return to UCL action. Both teams suffered the disappointment of exiting the F.A Cup on penalties on Tuesday night after a gruelling 120 minutes of football, so neither will have an advantage or disadvantage in tomorrow’s game with a number of similarities between our two ties as well. We both lost 5-4 on penalties and both had a player sent off in extra-time, Josh Jones for us for two yellows, while Dominic Allen-Ledgeway appears to have been shown a straight red in Potton.
Ar Tarn are still looking for their first win of 2023/24, but started with a great point away to much fancied Racing Club Warwick where Kye Little and former Cooks striker Will Russell were on target in a 2-2 draw. Disappointment followed three days later when they were beaten at home by GNG Oadby Town as Lamar Parkes netted the only goal of the game which leaves them in 15th spot with two games played. The Cooks are of course sitting second with a 100% league record having beaten Coventry United and Lutterworth Town before our F.A Cup exploits saw us draw 2-2 both away and home in the replay against a very good Westfields team before the shoot-out heartbreak. The Cup saw Desborough given a home draw against former UCL rivals Potton United and they were also held 2-2 with the former Cogenhoe duo of Archie Elmore and Russell again on target, while an extra-time goal from Kettering Town youngster Rico Duggan took the replay to penalties after a goalless ninety minutes.
Ar Tarn are managed by James Le Masurier, a well-known and respected figure at Compton Park and hasn’t made too many changes to his squad after their excellent finish to last season, One name that catches the eye is one-time Cooks target Oli Anderson who has joined from Wellingborough Town after finding his chances limited since moving up through their youth and reserves teams. As well as the two players mentioned as scorers earlier on, they have another former Cook in Adam Randall, a player who briefly skippered the Cooks during Gary Petts’ spell in charge.
Our trip to the Waterworks Field last season saw the home team triumph 1-0 thanks to a very late strike from Duggan after a closely fought contest that could easily have gone either way on the day. Players from that day who we won’t be seeing in action against us tomorrow are long serving utility player Iain Blaikie who has moved on to Wellingborough Town and wing-back Alvin Magagada who linked up with his former club Daventry Town.
