Report
There’s nothing harder than playing a team second from the top of a lower division which scored seven goals in the previous round against the top team, and so it was on Saturday when the Stags met Cogenhoe United.
During the opening minutes Cogenhoe showed just how they scored those seven goals in the last round. The home defence looked tentative and were sleeping at the start when Richard Turner raced clear of the home defence after only 50 seconds and should have scored but managed to shoot wide after Gavin King came out to narrow the angle.
Turner made amends after 10 minutes when after some fast play down the left wing by Rob Goldring ended in a cross which the Stags defence had difficulty in dealing with. Ben Foster shot but the ball bounced back to Turner who shot home through a sea of legs. allowed him to shoot home from twelve yards.
The Stags went on the attack and began to test the Cogs’ defence which was always found wanting on crosses. After 15 minutes they won a free kick on the left side of the penalty area which was taken by Tariq Nabil and pushed onto the post by ‘keeper Peter ear for one of many corners which were to be won by the home team throughout the match.
A period of strong pressure ensued for the Stags where Ian Barnes combined well wit Solomon Henry up the right side, the Cogs finding difficulty in cutting out the line ball. Henry began to look for the cross and when he succeeded after 17 minutes it was Hasan Kardal who found himself in front of goal but unable to direct the ball near enough to goal.
Chances came and went but it took to the 42nd minute for the Stags to get back on equal terms. Dewayne Clarke was fouled on the right side of the Cogs’ penalty area and Cash man took the kick. Simon Tickner ghosted in behind the defence and fiercely headed home for another “trade mark” Tickner goal.
The second half started with problems for both defences: first, straight from the restart, Clarke broke down the left and crossed to Kardal whose second touch let him down and gave the defence time to get in and clear the ball. Cogenhoe turned defence into attack, went straight up the other end and would have scored were it not from a great save by King.
The home side went ahead on 49 minutes when Tariq Nabil passed the ball to Papa Kanyuka on the right side of the Cogs’ penalty area. He took the ball around a defender and chipped it over the ‘keeper from an acute angle.
Cogenhoe did their best to get back on terms and the Stags were twice saved by King from Foster and from Wright who looked odds on to score from close range but King managed to scoop the ball onto the underside of the crossbar and out for a corner.
As Cogenhoe pushed up, space was left behind their defence and when the ball came back to either the ‘keeper or the defenders when they were deep, they had difficulty in clearing the ball further than the half way line. Any ball that went to the left was pounced on by Kanyuka who would race down the wing and cut into the penalty area. On a couple of occasions the lead could have been increased with a bit of luck and the right option taken. Once Kanyuka cut the ball back across the six yard box only to see the two onrushing Stags forwards fail to meet the ball. On the second occasion Clarke was in the right place but the defender just got a touch in first to send the ball for a corner. On the next occasion Kanyuka was bearing down on goal but chose to cut the ball back rather than shoot which seemed the best option, the ball was cleared. However, once again Kanyuka and Clarke were putting fear into the opposition’s defence.
Cogenhoe spent the last ten minutes of the match in a furious attempt to equalise but they became profligate in front of goal. In the end they are to be congratulated on taking the game to the Stags and showing excellent sportsmanship. The referee, Mr James, had an excellent game too.