Saturday 29th July
UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE – PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH
COGENHOE UNITED v COVENTRY UNITED
Compton Park,
Brafield Rd,
Cogenhoe,
NN7 1ND
KO 3pm.
Its CUFC v CUFC on Saturday as the league season begins. Once again it is a very difierent Cooks squad having seen Ash Bodycote (Harborough Town), Perry Ronayne (believed to be hanging his boots up now), Luca Purse (last heard of on trial at Kettering Town), Louie Barrett (Leighton Town), Jessi Obeng (St Ives Town), Bruce Tsinosis (training at Spalding United), Pharrell Anderson, Kodi Briggs and Ben Gough (all Diamonds) and Patryk Cichosz (Wellingborough Town) have all moved on, while Josh Adams who left just before the end of last season has signed for Moulton. and I wish them luck at their new clubs.
The Cooks rounded-off their pre-season with a 1-1 draw at home to AFC Rushden & Diamonds on Tuesday evening with Jack Connor registering our goal. This means we finish our friendlies with one win, three draws and two defeats, but this game will be the first time that results really do matter this season.
Coventry United appear to have a few changes to their squad as well, if not so dramatic as the ones at Compton Park. Pre-season has seen a mixed bag of results, starting with a 1-0 win at Studley followed by a 1-3 defeat away to Sutton Coldfield Town from the step above. Long Buckby were beaten 4-1 in a game played down the road at Coventry Copsewood before they drew 2-2 at home to Kidderminster Harriers U23. A comfortable 3-0 win at Chelmsley Town was next up, but a 3-4 reverse at Coventry Alliance boys Folly Lane ensued before they rounded things off with a away game at Midland League Division One neighbours Copsewood on Tuesday night where they triumphed 2-0.
The last time the two clubs met here was in February this year and the Cooks put in one of their best performances of the season as they completed the double over the Red & Greens with a 4-1 win. The perfect start saw Obeng open the scoring inside the first minute, then Bailey Weatherly made it 2-0 in the sixth minute. Kyle Carey pulled one back on 27, but it was 3-1 before the break as Alex Parkes netted in the final minute of the half. Obeng bagged his second on the hour and that was enough to seal an impressive win for the Cooks.
I will be away this weekend in Wales so I won’t be able to do my usual coverage on the game, but all being well I shall return for Tuesday night’s trip to Lutterworth Town.
Tuesday 1st August 2023
UNITED COUNTIES LEAGUE – PREMIER DIVISION SOUTH
LUTTERWORTH TOWN v COGENHOE UNITED
Dunley Way,
Lutterworth,
Leicestershire
LE17 4NP
KO 7-45 pm
In case I don’t get the chance to do this before the game, above are the details of our trip over the border into Leicestershire next Tuesday, The Cooks will be hopeful to atone for what must have been their worst performance last season as the Swifts triumphed 2-0 against a lacklustre performance from us.
