Ian Adcock returned to the hot seat as his team bounced back from their midweek defeat with a four goal salvo.
Saturday 8th April 2023
UHLSPORT UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE – RESERVE DIVISION
COGENHOE UNITED RESERVES (1) 4 G.N.G OADBY TOWN RESERVES (0) 0
Cooks;
Giddens 18, 81
Noka 59
Talbot 80
REPORT SUPPLIED BY IAN ADCOCK.
Following a spirited midweek display against champions-elect Harborough Town Res, we hosted GNG Res in a fixture where only 3 points would do.
Both teams only having 12 players, it was going to be a case of who conserved themselves the best for the second half on the warmest day of the year so far.
The first 5 mins saw GNG start quickly – waves of runners and individual play, but not creating any chances.
We talked about their style of play from earlier in the season and the need to stay compact and disciplined – we did this extremely well and slowly got a foothold in the game and took control from then on.
After 15 mins Connor Gibbins got put through on goal and only an outstretched leg from the visitor’s keeper kept us at bay. That was until on 18 mins when it was Gibbins again who found himself free and crashed a shot against the underside of the crossbar – the bench all celebrating as we thought it crossed the line, but it was the quick reactions of Sam Giddens who played to the whistle and poked home the rebound to make sure (good job as a later conversation with the linesman said it hadn’t!). 1-0 Cooks.
The dominance continued with controlled play and Gibbins went through yet again only for their keeper to stand tall and thwart another one from the home striker.
The last 10 mins saw GNG come back into the game but the half fizzled out with no real chances of note.
HT: Cogenhoe United Res 1-0 GNG Res
We spoke about needing to manage the game with only one sub in the warm sun and so Lorenco Soulollari came on for the impressive Sam Giddens, to give the latter extra minutes to recharge the batteries after endless running in the first half.
More controlled possession ensued but a second goal was proving difficult to find, until on 59 mins a long free kick from Ciaran Wells went over everyone and Mirzan Noka reacted quickest to slot it past the onrushing keeper. 2-0 Cooks.
Another change on the hour saw Giddens return for Noka to freshen things up once again and the next 15 mins were fairly even once again, but this time the visitors having their best chance of the game, but wells pulling off a fine save in what was otherwise a fairly quiet game for him.
The final change was on 75 mins which saw Noka back on for Gibbins and meant a more central role for Giddens. It didn’t take long for another goal when a hopeful Soulollari free kick from deep saw their keeper drop the ball at the feet of Dan Talbot, who reacted and hooked it into an empty net. 3-0 Cooks.
A minute later saw Giddens pounce once again with a cool right footed finish, taking him to 6 goals in 3 games and hitting his best form of the season. 4-0 Cooks.
FT: Cogenhoe United Res 4-0 GNG Res
A controlled performance from start to finish from the boys and takes us into Tuesday’s tough game away at Chenecks in good form.
PHOTOS SUPPLIED BY FINBARR CARROLL.
Cooks; 1. Ciaran Wells 2. Dylan Carlin 3. Dan Talbot 4. Sam Harris 5. James Hine 6. Lee Felgate © 7. Mirkan Noka 8. Luke Andrews 17. Connor Gibbins 10. Kieron Mobbs 11. Sam Giddens. Subs; Lorenco Soulollari * 14. Lee Saving (unused) 15. Ian Adcock (unused).
Referee; Wayne Chalmers
