COGAN Coronation AFC scored a dramatic late winner to take all 3 points away to AFC Whitchurch. The 2-1 victory leaves Cogan joint top of the South Wales Senior League Division 2.

Whitchurch proved to be an energetic attacking team that were determined to take the game to Cogan on a blistering Saturday afternoon in Cardiff. Unfortunately for the 2nd week running a mistake from the Cogan keeper led to an early opener against the run of play, for the opposition. After misjudging and not dealing with a cross strongly, an opposition striker fired home into an empty net from 12 yards out, and Cogan were scrapping for their lives once again from early on in the match.

It took energy and real character from the Cogan outfit to keep building attacks down the flanks but the final ball was just not accurate enough, and the finishing lacked the necessary precision. The pitch was hard and bumpy, which didn’t help the football playing team from the Vale. And it took the power and persistence of striker and joint manger Gavin Beddard to force an opening for him to fire in a worthy equaliser only minutes before half time.

The second half was almost a mirror image of the 1st, and Cogan keeper Ed Smith more than made up for his earlier error by making 4 excellent saves to keep the scores level. At the other end Cogan yet again struggled to both get on the end of the ball and finish the few chances that were created.

As substitutions were made and the game drew to a close, a reckless tackle from a Cogan defender gave Whitchurch a penalty with just 5 minutes left on the clock. Ed Smith, an imposing figure in the Cogan goal managed to dive to his right and make another fantastic save, before clambering onto the rebound and holding it. These heroics would see Ed named a worthy man of the match winner after the game.

Minutes later and an astute attack by Cogan forced their 10th corner of the game, only this time a fine delivery by Adam Rees was met by a thunderous header from Gavin Beddard as he claimed his 2nd goal of the game that ensured Cogan would take all 3 points. Once again the Cogan spirit and work rate must be praised as the lads beat the frustrations of the day and kept going until the final whistle. It is this team spirit that will allow Cogan Coronation AFC to not only improve as a team but to also build up their genuine challenge for the league title this season.