Cogenhoe United U18 1 AFC Rushden & Diamonds U18 0

Cogenhoe United U18 1-0 AFC Rushden & Diamonds U18

Northants Senior Youth League

A late sucker punch denied Rushden a deserved point in a closely fought game at Compton Park.

The hosts had the better start to the game, with Gulpin firing over from the edge of the box, before Obeng tested Connor Brown in the Diamonds goal from similar range.

Omar Ghavami had Rushden’s first effort of the game, showing good control to bring down a Tommy Messinger free kick before neatly turning his marker, but unfortunately his shot lacked the same quality and flew high over the bar.

Both sides then went close from left wing corners; the Cooks seeing a Day header well saved by Brown, before Messinger blazed over after the home defence had only half cleared.

The best moment of the opening period came just after the half hour mark, when Obeng miscontrolled a cross from the right but made up for it with a brilliant overhead kick, which Brown did really well to tip over the bar.

The Diamonds best bit of play came shortly before the half time whistle, as Matty Smith and Messinger exchanged passes, with the former cutting inside from the left wing before hitting a good shot from 25 yards, but it was too close to Greer in the Cogenhoe goal.

HT: Cogenhoe United U18 0-0 AFC Rushden & Diamonds U18

The second half burst into life almost immediately, with both sides squandering great chances to take the lead. Cogenhoe threatened first, with a quick break down the left wing which saw the ball squared to Obeng in the middle of the penalty area, but he fluffed his lines, skying the ball high over the bar. The Diamonds then had a similar break down their right wing, with Smith finding Savvas Hamp in space at the far post, but his first touch was poor and his second saw him fire into the side netting.

The action then became very quiet for the remainder of the game. Day headed just over from a corner for the Cooks, before Smith fired high and wide after being picked out by Ben Roche.

Cogenhoe had a good chance to win the game just 3 minutes from time as Obeng raced onto a ball through the middle of the Rushden defence, but although he took the ball around Brown, the Diamonds ‘keeper managed to force him wide and his shot found only the side netting.

Rushden must have thought that a point was there’s now, but deep into stoppage time a long throw from the right wing was flicked on at the near post, and Liddington snuck in at the back stick to volley home from almost right on the line.

FT: Cogenhoe United U18 1-0 AFC Rushden & Diamonds U18