W John Owen Cup, Round 2

Cogan Coronation 4 v Brynna AFC 2

AFTER a long, weather-enforced break, Cogan were back in action last weekend with a second round match in the W John Owen Cup. Brynna AFC were the visitors on a boggy pitch, but Cogan were able to kick their 2016 off with a bit of style.

They took an early lead to get things started perfectly. After shooting out of the traps, one attack saw the ball break loose to Jon Matthews who swung his left foot and, with the help of a deflection, gave Cogan the breakthrough.

From then, both teams tried in vain to take hold of the game. The pitch meant that possession and passing were made difficult, but that didn’t stop some good work down the flanks.

Both sides’ left flanks were dangerous, with Joel Lapton at right-back for Cogan facing up to Brynna’s dangerous winger, and Martyn Boulton getting himself into quality positions to look for balls over the top.

As the first half went on, Brynna began to find their feet. Eventually the equaliser came as a lay-off on the edge of the box was finished with some aplomb by the visiting attacker.

Cogan tried to respond quickly, and were looking to take advantage of the good game that Boulton was having. He swung a few crosses in towards Gavin Beddard – up front for Cogan – but one in particular found Richard Cronin on the back post. He won his header well, but it rebounded off the post.

The first half then fizzled out without much action. But the second half was quite different.

Within minutes of the restart, Boulton found himself cutting inside and unleashing a shot. It wasn’t one of his best, but the awkward dip deceived the goalkeeper and the ball snuck under him. Cogan had the lead.

They then really began to dominate. Lapton was overlapping from right back and causing problems, while Curt Boddy on the other side was combining well with Boulton. Dave Richardson and Carl Fitzgerald properly took control of the central midfield, while Jon Matthews was adding extra firepower to the Cogan attack with his runs forward. At the back, Dean Morgan and Callum Pearce had total control of the opposition attackers, meaning Lewis May in goal had little to deal with.

Beddard began causing more problems too. He saw one shot go wide, before he eventually punished the visitors.

As a Cogan attack broke down, Richardson was sharp in winning the ball back on the edge of Brynna’s box. He found Lapton out wide who showed good strength to hold off the defender before swinging in a cross towards Beddard.

The striker’s header was typically perfect and the ball nestled into the right corner of the net. It was a great goal, and in truth it killed the game.

Josh Bell came on for Matthews not long after and it only made life harder for Brynna.

Another fine Boulton run and cross almost forced an own goal. Good work between Beddard and Bell lead to a shot from Bell, after some sharp footwork, which was well saved. Beddard again set up a chance, for Cronin this time, who saw his shot bounce off the keeper’s feet.

Another Boulton cross, another Beddard header – this time just wide. It was all Cogan.

It was only a matter of time before the fourth goal came. It came from Bell, who was brought down after taking on three men on the edge of the Brynna box. Boulton stepped up and his strike was deflected into the net, leaving the 'keeper stranded.

As Cogan looked to see out the match, a Brynna corner went straight in and made the score 4-2. But there was no genuine threat to this victory.

The effort from Cogan was personified by man of the match Richardson, who saw out the last few minutes of the match hobbling with cramp.

A fine display of work rate and finishing from Cogan, in very difficult conditions.