Tuesday 31st January 2023
UHLSPORT UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE – PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH
COGENHOE UNITED v RUGBY TOWN
Compton Park,
Brafield Rd,
Cogenhoe.
NN7 1ND
KO 7-45 PM
League Leaders Rugby Town head to Compton Park on Tuesday night looking to extend their 13 point lead at the top, although their rivals Coventry Sphinx are also in action with a home game against Bugbrooke. The Valley have played four more games than Sphinx, but it is very much in their own hands still, especially as they still have to meet in the city.
Rugby have won their last nine league games, although two cup defeats break up the run somewhat. They have played twice this year, an 8-0 thrashing of Long Buckby at Butlin Road with leading scorer David Kolodynski bagging a hat-trick, then last weekend they won 3-0 away at Lutterworth Town with Kolo hitting two more to take his tally to 15. Jordan Wilson scored in both games and has 11 in total, adding to the 12 he scored for Lutterworth before his transfer to Butlin Road.
The Cooks are looking for points for a different reason and picked up a valuable one at Godmanchester on Saturday. Pharrell Anderson seized on an error to lift a shot over the keeper on 7 minutes, but Goddy levelled before the break through Matty Allan and they game ended one-apiece. Ash Bodycote made some excellent saves in the game, but won’t be available for this one as he is on loan from Rugby, so Stamford keeper Ben Heath is ready and willing to step into his place. It’s fair to say that the Cooks didn’t have luck on their side in this game as Kyle Ansell (twice) and Bailey Weatherly both rattled the crossbar in an entertaining match on the St Ives Town 3G.
We have already met at Butlin Road on the opening day of the season, a game that Rugby won by two goals to one. Archie Elmore gave us the lead from the penalty spot, but Ryan Seal levelled things up before the break and Justin Marsden fired home the winner mid-way through the second half. The last meeting here just under a year ago ended with Rugby edging a tight game 1-0 with sub Max Johnson scoring the decisive goal nine minutes into the second half after coming on at the break.
