Cogan Coronation 3 YNYSHIR ALBION 2

VISITORS to the Rec this weekend were newly promoted Ynyshir Albion. ogan knew they were in for a physical game and that was proven from the off with Ynyshir putting in some very tough tackles in the first 5 minutes, but the home side gave as good as they got, with the midfield of Haidn Dibble, Keiron James and Mike Selio standing strong.

Ynyshir brought a very large and vocal travelling crowd but they were silenced on 15 minutes, when Bradley Munn lumped a ball upfield, only for the Ynyshir defender to head back to his keeper. With the keeper slipping and the ball bouncing over his head it left Scott Muir to put the ball into an empty net.

Ynyshir started to increase the pressure, but with Nathen Self, James Marr and Wesley Drew playing excellently in defence it was always going to be hard for the visitors to find a breakthrough. 1-0 half time.

The second half started pretty even, but after five minutes Ynyshir were reduced to ten men. After some good passing Paul Jones had found himself through on goal only to be brought down from behind, leaving the referee no choice but to send the defender off for the foul.

This seemed to spur Ynyshir on and with a counter-attack their striker was adjudged to have been tripped in the box by Haidn. Cogan protests were waved away and a penalty was awarded. The penalty was confidently tucked away, leaving debutant goalkeeper Mark Hussey with little chance of saving it.

Then within a matter of minutes a clumsy challenge from Wes Drew, which seemed to be on the edge of the box, resulted in the referee awarding another penalty, Cogan protests again fell on deaf ears, and again the penalty was finished confidently and Ynyshir led 2-1.

With time running out Cogan introduced Kevin Spear who instantly made an impact when his precise header found the run of Scott Muir who produced a good finish from outside the box to set up a frantic last 10 minutes.

Then with just a couple of minutes to go and after constant Cogan pressure, Mike Selio made a great run from midfield firing a great shot against the post. The rebound fell at the feet of Daniel Humphries who calmly fired it past the scrambling keeper to win the match for Cogan.

Final score 3-2 - a well-fought but deserved win.

Cogan's Man of the Match was the impressive Mike Selio.

Cogan Coronation would like to thank Penarth Motor Company, Crest Nicholson, CASS Hire & Sales and all sponsors for their continued support.

Cogan's next game is at Cogan Rec against Lewistown on Saturday (September 22), ko 2pm.

COGAN CORONATION RESERVES 6 ST JOSEPH’S RESERVES 1

COGAN Reserves could not have started their first home game of the season any better!

With only two minutes on the clock Liam ‘Dinky’ Ryan played a great ball down the right wing for the young and impressive Jamie Harris to run onto, and he put a pinpoint cross into the box for strike partner Lewis Humphries to score with a bullet header.

Cogan continued to dominate the first half with some neat passing and good movement from Matt Whitcombe, Lee ‘Pee Wee’ Reynolds and Jonny Coombes in centre midfield. Manager Dean Ford and Player Assistant Mark ‘Podge’ Herniman were giving a debut to current Youth Team goalkeeper Ed Smith, but he was mainly a spectator during the first 45 minutes due to the performance of Sean Golledge, Kevin Clarke and Gareth ‘Woody’ Woodhead in defence, who were sweeping up every rare St Joseph’s attack.

Cogan were creating chance after chance and should have increased their lead when Sean Golledge met a perfect corner with a free header from 10 yards out, but failed to hit the target.

It took Cogan until the 25th minute to finally extend the 1-0 lead. Michael Large danced his way through a couple of challenges down the left wing before noticing the visiting goalkeeper fractionally of his line, and he produced an accurate chip to give Cogan a 2-0 lead.

This seemed to deflate the visitors even more and Cogan started to knock the ball around from side to side with each pass giving each player more confidence. Five minutes before the break Lewis picked up the ball 25 yards out a smashed his shot against an on rushing defender. He then squared the rebound to the onrushing Jonny Coombes who smashed his 25 yard drive into the top corner, giving the keeper no chance.

Cogan went into the half time break 3-0 up in, and they started the second half as they finished the first - on the attack.

With 55 minutes on the clock Matt spread the ball wide to Dinky who was just in his own half, before what can only be described as a ‘Maradona-esque’ run and chance to give Cogan a 4-0 lead - which he took with style.

Cogan then took their foot of the gas and let St Joseph’s into the game. Ed produced some fine catches from dangerous crosses before pulling off a fantastic save from a 20 yard drive which he tipped over the bar.

The St Joseph’s pressure did reward them with a consolation goal. A cross was drilled into the box and it was the unfortunate Woody who diverted it into his own net, leaving Ed with no chance, for 4-1.

Cogan didn’t let this disrupt what had been a fantastic performance though, and restored their four goal advantage just five minutes later. Another good run from Dinky and a lovely one-two with the ever running Jamie Harris gave Dinky his 2nd goal of the game, 5-1 Cogan.

With 20 minutes remaining manager Ford decided to look to his bench and brought on the returning Dave Sadler for Michael Large, and supersub Podge on for the improving Jonny Coombes.

Cogan’s 6th came from some good running and movement from veteran Podge who crossed the ball to Lewis, who returned the favour from his goal by teeing up Jamie Harris for a well-deserved goal.

The full time whistle followed five minutes later with the final score 6-1 to Cogan.

Man of the Match was given to the very impressive Liam ‘Dinky’ Ryan who produced his best performance to date for the Reserves.

Cogan Coronation would like to thank Penarth Motor Company, Crest Nicholson, CASS Hire and Sales, and all sponsors for their continued support.

The Reserves’ next game is away to St Albans on Saturday, September 22, ko 2pm.