South Wales FA Senior League Division Two

Cogan Coronation 5 St Albans 1

COGAN’S return to form continued on Saturday as they welcomed third place St Albans from Tremorfa to Cogan Rec.

The two had met in Tremorfa the previous week, when Cogan came away with a 3-2 win after a dominant display ended with a 20 minute lapse at the end of the match. The team wanted to show their class here, on their own pitch.

And they put on one of their most impressive 90 minutes of the season. The final score was conclusive, but the performance was even more so.

From the word go, Cogan wanted to show their rivals that they are still in the hunt for the league title, as well as chasing promotion. St Albans sit two places above Cogan for now, by virtue of having played five more matches, but the gulf in class in the other direction was clear.

The home-side were into their stride straight away, with Gaz Blyth and Josh Bell working the flanks and creating the space for striker Gavin Beddard to exploit.

It was Blyth who gave Cogan the lead, as he did the previous Saturday, after their quick start had St Albans on the ropes. The ball took a few ricochets in the box before falling to the winger who slotted the ball home.

Josh Bell made it 2-0 soon after, as Cogan continued to press. After picking the ball up on the left hand side, he cut in, took on two men, and finished clinically at the near post.

It wasn’t just the attackers who were doing the business for Cogan though. Haidn Dibble, Liam Beddard and Gareth Clarke were in total control of the midfield.

Beddard, in fine form since Christmas, was dominant in the air and on the ground, breaking up St Albans’ attempts to create chances from midfield.

While Clarke was superb, bringing extra composure to the middle of the park and spraying passes into every area of the field to kick start Cogan attacks.

The defence of Jon Matthews, Stewart Owadally, Joel Lapton and Leigh Bennett were equally assured behind them. Holding a high line, they smothered the visiting attack and the odd opportunities that were created from set plays were confidently dealt with by Mark Hussey in goal.

As the first half progressed, it was clear Cogan were in control but the home-side knew that at 2-0 up the previous week, they almost let the points go.

So a commanding second half performance was needed and they didn’t disappoint.

Gavin Beddard, not on the score sheet yet, had been prowling for a goal in the first half. Inevitably, he broke his duck within minutes of the start of the second after following in his own shot that was saved by the ‘keeper to hammer home Cogan’s third.

The home-side’s intent didn’t wane. Straight from St Albans’ kick off, Beddard had got possession back, Cogan were out to send a message.

Clarke continued his excellent man-of-the-match display, and began dictating the game from his deep position. As the visitors tried to press higher onto him, Dibble was left in even more space to unleash his range of passing.

It was total dominance from the Cogan midfield and it led to wave after wave of attack.

A corner that followed one such attack brought the fourth goal. Bell’s deep cross found the head of Gavin Beddard, who nodded home an accurate header. It was his hat-trick that wrapped things up.

After a spectacular overhead kick attempt from Bell, a few more passes came before the ball fell to Beddard on the edge of the box. There was only going to be one outcome, as he scored his 28th goal of the campaign.

It was a fantastic team performance from Cogan. Subs Jamie Harris and Rhys Buckley came on during the goal glut and injected even more energy into an already potent performance and Dan Bell confidently replaced a very assured Jon Matthews.

The one low point for Cogan came towards the end as the visitors grabbed a controversial consolation goal.

Cutting in from the left, it appeared as though the St Albans striker had taken the ball out of play but he continued his run and finished well, lifting the ball above the diving Hussey in goal.

Cogan rise to fourth in the division with the win. They are 14 points behind leaders Cadoxton Barry, but with four games in hand, they are just four points adrift of second-place Whitchurch, with three games in hand on the north Cardiff side.

They travel to ninth place Cefn Cribwr this Saturday.