Harry Southgate hit a hat-trick against his former club as he edged out Connor Gibbins’ double.
Saturday 16th April 2022
UHLSPORT UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE-RESERVE DIVISION
O.N CHENECKS Reserves (2) 3 COGENHOE UNITED Reserves (1) 2
Chenecks;
Harry Southgate (3)
Cooks;
Connor Gibbins (2)
The Cooks Reserves took on local rivals Chenecks on Saturday on a warm spring day. With Gary away Damien was joined in the dugout by next year’s Reserves Manager Ian Adcock and his assistant Lee Saving, as the Management hand over continued, with Gary and Damien focusing on the u18’s next year.
As with the majority of games, the squad was depleted by players being unavailable for various reasons, last minute dropouts and a deserved call up for Nzube Nwuso to the first team, resulting in 3 subs (one injured so only used at the very last gasp) and one or two players playing out of position, including Lee Felgath standing in for us in Goal as both keepers were unavailable.
As per the Raunds game, the Chenecks team were under new management and a number of very experienced players were named in the squad – so another test would be before us as we had a number of u18’s and one 16 year-old player in the Squad.
The game started brightly and the Cooks had plenty of possession and settled into the game nicely, and we had a dream start after 10 minutes, where Reza cut open the Chenecks defence and fed the very impressive Gibbins, who took a touch and slotted home 1-0.
The goal clicked Chenecks into gear and as they added pressure, we became wasteful on the ball, and 5 minutes after scoring we were needlessly exposed on the left and a dinked cross saw the unmarked Chenecks player beat the keeper at close range.
The home team continued to press and by now had the better of the game and on 24 minutes they broke again and went 2-1 up with an unopposed header in the 6 yard box and that’s how it stayed until half time
We started the second half better, holding onto the ball, and using the wide players and this paid off, once again Gibbins making the run and this time sub Medan fed him the ball, and a clinical strike gave him the brace, but Chenecks were the more dangerous and some sloppy work from the Cooks and Chenecks showing their experience presented them with a winner after 65 minutes
The last 25 minutes were pretty uneventful with both sides feeling the heat and the hard ground making attractive football difficult
A disappointing loss after three games unbeaten, and plenty to work for Ian in the final game of the season on 30th April at Huntingdon where a top 10 finish is still a possibility. Thanks to our Hosts Chenecks and good luck in their final game v Newport Pagnell
Thanks once again to Damien McGrath for his excellent write up on the game.
Cooks; 1. Lee Felgath 2. Sam Harris 3. Lorenco Soulollari 4. Luke Andrews 5. Jake Walpole © 6. Nat Allam 7. Connor Gibbins 8. Joe Morris 9. Shad Reza 10. Ben Mason 11. Kelvin Gyamfi. Subs all used; 12. Seb Patrick Medan 14. Isaac Redding 16. James McGrath.
