COGAN CORONATION allowed a two-goal lead to slip last week as Llantwit Fardre AFC earned themselves a 2-2 draw in a tense match.

The pair last met in September as Cogan prevailed with a 2-0 win away from home.

Cogan started the match positively, Haidn Dibble linked up well with Dean Raven and Sharif Nassoro (who took the armband in place of the unavailable Liam Jones).

But Llantwit matched the early intensity and pace set by Coro and set chances up themselves, their number nine testing Mark Hussey in goal with a driven shot to the keepers’ right early on.

In defence Leigh Bennett’s commanding presence across the back line kept Cogan in the game at times as the ever-regular produced some fantastic headers and clearances.

Bennett was needed more than ever on 18 minutes though as he somehow kept out a certain goal for the away side.

Stewart Owadally was caught in midfield as the ball sailed over his head and Llantwit had numbers to break on Cogan.

After some good passing from Llantwit their striker let loose a shot heading in had it not been for Bennett being on the goal mouth and sending the ball back up field to the relief of the management.

It was much of the same for Cogan for the next period, they traded shots with Llantwit but ultimately there was no spark in either team to get the opener.

Yet Nassoro, who until now had been a bit-part player for Cogan, raced out of a challenge and made up yards on the Llantwit defence.

His pressure forced the mistake which allowed the ball to fall to Dean Raven inside the box who took his chance perfectly as expected and fired Cogan into the lead on 34 minutes.

The goal seemed to shock Llantwit and they looked lethargic as Cogan searched for a second, not having to wait long until they found it.

Michael Wallace burst towards the box and traded a neat one-two with Dean Raven before firing into the bottom corner across the stranded Llantwit keeper.

There was just about enough time in the half for Dean Raven to receive his customary yellow-card before the referee brought proceedings to a halt.

The message at half-time for Cogan was simple, keep doing what you’re doing and let the ball do the work.

Unfortunately for Cogan though their team selection rarely lends itself to withstanding pressure, more being set up for fast attacking football.

With Llantwit throwing everything they had at the Cogan defence it was inevitable that they would concede but the question was if they could hold onto their slender lead or not.

10 minutes into the second half though and Llantwit halved the deficit with an unstoppable goal from range.

The centre-forward who had been threatening all game picked the ball up on the halfway line and edged closer to the box.

The turf beneath him let the ball kick-up ever so slightly and he used the momentary advantage to unleash a wicked volley that went straight through Hussey’s hands in goal.

It was a kick in the teeth for Cogan who went all out to restore their two-goal advantage which led to an equal barrage of attacking play from Llantwit.

Michael Wallace’s trickery opened up a half-chance for Raven to grab another, but his effort was crucially blocked as Cogan pained themselves to get back.

With 20 minutes to go on the clock the visitors started to dominate proceedings and they got the equaliser with the help of Stewart Owadally.

The centre-half lost control of the ball and allowed the Llantwit striker to race through and put away his second with relative ease.

In an effort to regain some control, Cogan opted to put the energetic Nicholas Coles further up the field and plug the right-back position with Nathan Self.

The change brought about some good opportunities and they came close on 80 minutes as the front three combined to set-up Wallace who couldn’t convert at full stretch.

With the full-time whistle moments away, Jonathan Carpentier had a chance to be the hero when he met Michael Wallace’s corner, but his effort was scrambled off the line by a resolute Llantwit defence who held on for the draw.

Emotions ran high at full-time as Cogan rued their missed opportunities and the points dropped from being in a winning position.

They’ll be looking to get a victory the next time out when they face FC Cwmaman.