Porthcawl Town 2

Cogan Coronation 3

AFTER a run of four straight defeats, Cogan kept their hopes of avoiding the drop alive with a crucial victory against fellow strugglers Porthcawl.

Cogan were handed a boost with the return of goalkeeper James Curtin who started behind a back four of Nicky Coles, Stewart Owadally, Curtis Boddy, and Chris Bramhill. In front of them, the midfield began the match well.

Liam Jones returned alongside Haidn Dibble and Gareth Clarke and the trio helped build some early momentum for the visitors.

It didn't take long for Cogan to show they were not giving up this relegation fight easily.

A smart ball from Boddy found John Clarke wide on the right. In familiar fashion, he ran at his man before getting the ball into the box where it fell to Dibble. The hero of the reverse fixture - where his last minute winner secured a 3 - 2 win - then took his time, shimmied inside onto his weaker right foot, and slotted home to open the scoring after just five minutes this time.

Cogan then stayed rock solid.

The home side tried to cajole their way into openings but the space wasn't there, with Gareth Clarke making a number of interceptions, while the back four stayed disciplined and held their shape.

But, out of the blue, an equaliser came in the 14th minute. A looping cross was caught by the strong wind and caught Curtin off his line, and Porthcawl were level.

No sooner had their celebrations finished though, before Cogan took control again.

Jones caught Porthcawl completely flat-footed from kick-off, driving straight forward and taking on a few players before playing it to veteran striker Danny Humphries. On the edge of the box, and surrounded by defenders, the danger looked under control, but Humphries worked an opening and guided a shot into the bottom corner passed the helpless goalkeeper.

Cogan were now in control and looking for a third.

Jamie Harris, down the left side, was finding space behind his marker and he, Dibble, and Bramhill were linking up well.

In the middle, Gareth Clarke was still providing protection for the defence while kick starting attacks with his clever passing. And on the right Nicky Coles was asserting himself on the game, forming a good partnership with John Clarke who was a constant threat.

But no clear chances came and with the game in the balance, the teams went in for the break with the Humphries goal separating them.

The second half began with the home side fighting back.

Cogan's defence needed to stay resolute as the pressure kept coming, and they did just that.

Curtin came and swept up smartly on more than one occasion, Bramhill and, particularly, Coles were dealing with the threats out wide, while Boddy and Owadally ensured nothing broke the back line.

Chances fell to Harris, Jones, and John Clarke, but Cogan couldn't get the crucial third goal.

John Sadler was sent on for Gareth Clarke, with manager Lee Williams sensing that his team may need to simply see out their 2 - 1 win with the pressure growing.

Porthcawl were winning a succession of corners which Cogan dealt with well. Until the 77th minute, when one of the home side's midfielders was left unmarked to power a header home.

It seemed they had given the points away. But yet again, Cogan responded in emphatic fashion. They regained the lead within a minute.

Driving forward from kick-off, the ball was spread to Dibble on the left. With players piling into the box, he shaped to cross but instead played a neat ball inside to Jones.

The shooting opportunity was on, but instead he played a reverse ball in to Humphries for the striker to stroke the ball into the far corner. It was an excellent display of composure from Dibble, Jones, and finally Humphries, in what was a huge moment in Cogan's season.

Porthcawl piled forward for the final 10 minutes but Cogan held firm. Coles, John Clarke, Boddy, Sadler and Owadally all put in important challenges as the visitors stuck to their task and saw the game out for a crucial three points.