Cogan fight back in tense derby thriller (From Penarth Times)

Cogan fight back in tense derby thriller

Cogan Youth 3 Dinas Powys Youth 2

THIS local derby promised to be an entertaining match - and it did not disappoint.

Cogan played host to Dinas Powys, with both sides featuring in the top half of the table South Wales League, West Division.

Cogan started the stronger, playing some neat football against a physical Dinas side.

After some excellent passing Martin "Shrimp" Boulton combined well with striker Jonny Sadler who slotted home early, but the effort was ruled offside.

Cogan could have been well ahead had they converted numerous scoring opportunities, before Dinas went down to 10 men due to a dismissal for dissent.

The sending-off seemed to spur on the away team who began to take control of the game, and when keeper Hussey was forced into making a save from a 25-yard shot, Dinas striker Terrer was on hand to slot home the rebound from close range, putting the visitors ahead.

After taking the lead the visitors were quicker to every ball and shortly after scored again, after some poor Cogan defending let in the lively Dinas striker Terrer for his second.

With half-time approaching and Dinas 2-0 up, the away team were beginning to look too strong for a young Cogan side that were struggling against the physical nature of their opponents.

The half-time team talk from Cogan coach Dan Godfrey seemed to put a spring in the step of the home team, who started the second half with a real look of desire to get back into the game.

Lewis Humphries and Lee Phillips started to boss the centre of midfield allowing speedy wingers Shrimp and Andrew Richards the freedom to attack and run at the Dinas defence.

This raised the tempo of the game and set the standard of how the second half would unfold.

With Kevin Spear replacing hard-working Gareth Davies up front, Cogan piled on the pressure forcing influential winger Shrimp to eventually gain a well-deserved Cogan goal.

The back four of Kev Boulton, Marc Bloxham, Dale Lawday and Kyle Hart, along with keeper Mark Hussey, played with grit and determination, keeping the dangerous Dinas strikers at bay.

The hosts were now playing with confidence and passed the ball well.

From a resulting Lee Phillips corner, a Jonny Sadler shot was diverted by a looping header from skipper Lewis Humphries into the net, that gave the keeper no chance and put the sides all square with only 15 minutes remaining.

Gaps were now appearing in the 10-man Dinas half as they searched for a goal, and it was not long before some slick passing movements put Cogan substitute Kevin Spear clear for the winner.

Cogan had shown great bounce-back ability and their revival was now complete!

With a nervy end that saw a Dinas equaliser ruled out for obstruction and an effort hit the crossbar, the Cogan victory was well-deserved.

Cogan are now sitting fourth in the league and play home to Baglan next Sunday, kick off 2pm.