Deserved double for Cosh

PHOTOS:
Winners Cosheston
Goal scorer Simon Lewis and player manager Gavin Wickland
Match officials
Rowena Lloyd and Gavin Wickland
Hundleton 2nds push forward

Fourth Division Cup Final:

Cosheston 1 - Hundleton 2nds 0

Referee: Alan Boswell

Assistants: Steve Badham & Keith Amos

Fourth Official: Jeff Hurton

Venue: Conygar Bridge Meadow Stadium

Cosheston completed the double of Fourth Division league and cup winners with a hard fought win over a gritty Hundleton Seconds’ outfit which never gave up battling and in the final ten minutes had their opponents’ supporters biting their fingernails.

In league fixtures between the teams this season Cosh had won 3-0 away and 7-0 at home but any thoughts of another easy success were dispelled as early as the second minute when a poor back pass by a  Cosheston defender had keeper James Reed scurrying to divert the danger.

End to end action

But Cosh quickly settled into their familiar pattern, with player/manager Gavin Wickland and skipper Lee Duignan running the show in midfield – and with a cross from Bernd Shilke hitting the top of the crossbar and Ferrier firing wide from a typical run down the left flank.

As play swung back and fore a Scott Brunton volley from the edge of the box brought a good save by Cosh keeper James Reed, with Robson Whalley firing the rebound well over the bar – and at the other end Dalton Boswell was put through but was denied when Steff Williams made a good save by using his outstretched legs.

Chances come and go

At a corner Cosheston defender Simon Lewis joined his front men and had a low shot blocked, whilst Nathan Ferrier continued to pose problems for the Hundleton back four with his pace but placed his left-foot cross shot marginally wide of the far post.

Hundleton also had chances before left back Jonathan Rogers, taking a welcome break from his berth at outside half for Narberth in the Welsh Championship rugby, headed on to the top of the Cosheston bar to ensure a blank scoresheet of a half well refereed by Alan Boswell.

Cosheston start well after the interval before Simon strikes

Cosheston made the better start to the second half as Nathan Ferrier featured on the left but fired wide of the target – and his namesake Scott also got involved but saw his shot deflected.

But it set up what proved to be the only goal of the game as a Nathan Ferrier corner was swung in to the far post where Simon Lewis lurked unmarked and his header was too powerful for Steffan Williams to keep out of his net.

There was almost a repeat of the scenario soon afterwards as Nathan Ferrier’s corner again found Lewis at the far post but this time it was blocked – and Hundleton went close soon afterwards but Craig Manning’s drive was stopped on the line by Stuart Ferrier and scrambled clear.

 

More chances go abegging

Both sides had other chances before there was an almighty scramble in the Hundleton box where Duignan’s toe-poke hit the post and three other attempts were somehow scrambled away before Scott Brunton broke clear at the other end but pushed his shot wide.

It marked the start of a frenetic last ten minutes where Hundleton sought desperately for an equaliser – and the closest came with four minutes left as a Lewis Barnikel shot was deflected inches the wrong side of the woodwork off a relieved Sam Richards.

Gavin Wickland (Cosheston Player/Manager):

“We are really chuffed to complete the double by beating a strong Hundleton side which pushed us all the way. We have only been going as a club for two years so after winning gaining promotion last season it is amazing to do so well this year. We are a close-knit group who play for each other under the captaincy of Lee Duignan and I say thanks to all the players, committee and families for their total support.”

Cosheston: James Reed: Sam Richards; Simon Lewis; Darren Mason; Stuart Ferrier: Bernd Shilke; Gavin Wickland; Lee Duignan; Nathan Ferrier (Liam Elliott 63’): Corey Edge Pakavatch Leghai 81’); Dalton Boswell (Ryan Bowen 68’).

Hundleton 2nds: Steffan Williams:  Rowan James (Sam Blunsden 62’); Marc Edwards; Lee Callan (Alex Hay 62’); Jonathan Rogers: Robson Whalley; Ashley Waterman; Scott Brunton; Louis Barnikel; Thomas Wood: Craig Manning; Dan Smith.

PHOTO:
Runners up Hundleton 2nds