COOKS EDGE PAST DENTON ON PENALTIES.

Milton Keynes Cup

Quarter final

Cogenhoe versus Denton

Sunday 29th January 2023

Compton Park

Cogenhoe United 0 Denton 0

(4-2 pens)

Cogenhoe kicked off this cup encounter against local rivals Denton, playing with the wind at their backs on very sticky pitch.

The first 15 minutes was pretty even with neither side putting any pressure on the goalkeepers. After a while of each side getting a measure of each other, it was Denton in the 29th minute who nearly broke the deadlock with a fine cross from their right wing into the edge of the Cooks six-yard-box with the Denton number 9 just a split second away from getting his head to the ball with an open goal in front of him to put his side in front.

Most of the attacks were now coming from Cogenhoe and in the 36th minute a really long range effort from Steve Carroll saw his effort just fly past the upright of the goal by a couple of inches.

Half-time 0-0

The half time break can only have been 5 minutes long at the most before both sides were back on the pitch  itching to get on with the game. The start of the second half was all one way traffic for a while and that was in the direction of the Denton goal with Cogenhoe piling on the pressure. A fine shot from distance by Paul Carroll saw the ball just take a touch off a Denton defender taking the ball out for a Cooks corner-kick. The corner-kick was defended, but only as far as Mark Dent who was unlucky to see his shot scrambled away by Denton.

Cogenhoe were camped in the oppositions half of the pitch sweeping up any forays from Denton around the halfway line. The next goal scoring chance of the game fell to Ricky Smith who’s shot from outside the area forced a fine finger-tip save from the Denton keeper.

With the game nearly over, Denton had a break down their right wing in the 89th Minute and a shot from the winger saw Cooks keeper Ollie Reynolds called into action to make a fine save at his near post putting the ball out for a corner. Cogenhoe were able to clear the corner kick and it was only a few seconds later referee Keith Lawrence was blowing his whistle indicating the game was over and we were going into a penalty shoot-out.

The first penalty from both sides were well saved by the keepers then Dan Hanger, captain Lee Haines, keeper Ollie Reynolds all scored, the Denton 4th penalty was put over the bar leaving  Sam Duggan to step up and convert his penalty to put Cogenhoe into the MK Veterans cup semi-final.

Result 0-0. Cogenhoe 4-2 on pens.

An excellent team effort from the Cooks, against a team 2 divisions higher in the league  with every player playing his part and I am glad I wasn’t tasked with picking man of the match because I would be hard pushed to pick one individual out from all the others.

Photos and report supplied by Finbarr Carroll.