Cottage Farm Rangers Under 11s

Reports:

16/12/2006 - Atherstone Rangers 3 - 2 Cottage Farm Rangers

This game would prove to be the toughest test Cottage would face in the league this season and what a game it was! Atherstone had to be made favourites before kick off, not having conceded a goal in the league and scoring freely. The first half was very eventful, with Cottage starting the better. Getting the ball down and keeping possession well in midfield and creating chances upfront. But through all that hard work it was Cottage who conceded first, through a lapse in concentration at the back not dealing with a cross into the box and just to add insult to injury about 2 minutes later we went 2-0 down (unjustly I must say). A couple of hanging feet allowing a one-on-one which Jamie may feel he should have saved in the end but there was not a lot of protection for him. But this Cottage Farm team like many others is not one to drop their heads very easily, struck back just before half time and with that handing Atherstone their first goal against this season. A shot from James Jones got deflected into the path of Kane Darkes who struck the ball into the near top corner. Feeling somewhat hard done by being 2-1 down at half time, we could not praise the lads more on a brilliant first half display. All we could ask for was the same effort again. Atherstone came out of the blocks very quickly as expected and penned us back for a good 10 minutes but the lads held firm and struck again mid-way through the half. This time it was Tommy Watlow doing what he does very well popping up in the box completely unmarked and finished from a matter of yards. With both teams tiring if was another goal it would almost certainly be the winner. Unfortunately it was Atherstone who grabbed it but really I think a draw would have been fair and this view was shared by the Atherstone Coaches. The match was played at a very fast pace and was a pleasure to watch at times. Well done to all lads, a very good performance. Man of the Match was extremely difficult but it went to James Jones who covered the most ground on the pitch bar nobody.

11/11/2006 - Cottage Farm Rangers 9 - 2 Belgrave Bullets Utd

Up this week for Cottage Farm was Belgrave Bullets Utd who were sitting in 3^rd position before kick off. Cottage needing to produce a far better performance than last week then and that is exactly what we got to see. In fact they produced some absolutely fantastic football at times in this game and the effort and determination was back this week. Cottage kept the ball far better this week and made Belgrave work for possession, with them getting tired the lads exposed gaps in the Belgrave defence and they came in at half time with a deserved lead of 5-1. With goals coming from Kane Darkes, James Jones, James Jones, James Jones and you guessed it James Jones. An excellent first half hat trick, hopefully the first of many more this season Jim- Bo. The second half continued in much the same way Cottage dominating possession and territory and the supporters on the touch line got to see another 4 goals in the second half, including a well deserved goal from a fast becoming crowd favourite Tommy Watlow. Luke Lawson came off the bench and popped up with a second league goal of the season but the day belong to James Jones who if there was 2 match balls and we were playing in the Premiership would have collected them both because he finished the game off completing his double hat-trick. He also collected the Man of the Match trophy as well, but well done to all the lads, with everybody involved playing very well.

04/11/2006 - Wood End Tigers 2 - 5 Cottage Farm Rangers

After getting back to winning ways last week against Coton Green, the lads were looking to push on this week against bottom of the league Wood End. The game, however, didn’t go according to plan. With Cottage looking sluggish and sloppy in possession, Wood End set the stool out and worked tirelessly, making the game as hard as possible. However, it was Cottage who opened the scoring through the captain Oliver O’Connor’s header at the back post from a lovely floated corner from Kane Darkes. Then two goals in quick succession from Alex Sutton made it 3-0 at half time. After a bit of a roasting at half time, credit must go to the lads for upping the work rate. Wood Ends work rate on the other hand never let up for a second and they scored a deserved goal after a bit of a scramble in the Cottage penalty area. Cottage then hit back immediately through James Jones slotting the ball into bottom corner. Shortly after Kane Darkes was put through on goal and made no mistake making it 5-1 but Wood End still came back at us and won maybe a slightly harsh penalty which was brilliantly finished. Possibly the worst game of the season so far but yet another win for the lads. Man of the Match was Danny Butcher, it seems it doesn’t matter where he plays at the minute, whether it be at left back, right back or centre back he still gives everything. Excellent Danny!

28/10/2006 - Cottage Farm Rangers 4 - 1 Coton Green

After being knocked out of the Invitation Cup last week it was very important the lads got back to winning ways in the league and kept up their 100% record and that is exactly what they did. Although it wasn’t the most impressive of performances the lads battled well and played some excellent football in patches. Certainly all four goals were very good, the first goal coming through Alex Sutton showing his pace and strength to stride into the box and strike the ball into the top corner. Then Coton snatched a equaliser shortly after, the midfield a little slow in getting back goal side and a defensive lapse all contributed. However Cottage were not put off and took the lead again almost immediately again through Alex Sutton, this time receiving the ball inside from James Jones and striking the ball from the edge of the area. The ball powered through the goalkeepers hands and into the back of the net. Then after some good defending from a corner, Cottage broke out very quickly and caught Coton Green. The skipper found Alex Sutton on half way who neatly flicked the ball round the corner for James Jones to latch onto and roll the ball under the keeper. Just the one goal in the second half (don’t know how) but what a goal it was. Kane Darkes coming off the bench after a two week absence, struck a free kick from about 25 yards out and bent it right into the top corner (what a strike). So Cottage are back on track in the league and long may it continue. Man of the Match was the vice skipper Liam Watson for a typical battling performance at the back and keeping the ball well when moved into midfield.

21/10/2006 - Cottage Farm Rangers 0 - 9 Weddington Thistle

I said in the previous match report that last week was our toughest test so far, but that didn’t last long because of the visit of Weddington Thistle, who are top of Division 1, in the Invitation Cup. The first half certainly didn’t go to plan for Weddington, as Cottage could and should have taken the lead very early on, a goal line clearance the only thing denying Luke Lawson. The majority of the first half went the same way with Cottage certainly playing the better football of the two sides. Even after Weddington capitalised on a missed clearance from a corner and 5 minutes later the exact same thing happened. But all credit to the lads, they stuck to there task and kept piling on the pressure having corner after corner after corner. With the score 2-0 at half time and the lads playing well we were certainly still in the game and certainly could have been up at half time. We looked good again for the first 5 minutes of the second half. Unfortunately the lads ran out of steam and started getting a bit sloppy and Weddington took fall advantage scoring another 7 goals in the space of 20 minutes. But unexpectedly it was Cottage who finished stronger having another couple of good chances, including another goal line clearance! So all in all Weddington were fully deserving of the win but the lads for certainly half of the game showed they can match any team in the area. Man of the Match was again Danny Butcher on a great run of form at full back.

14/10/2006 - Blackwood Bullets 0 - 4 Cottage Farm Rangers

A tougher test this week for CFRFC Under 11’s playing a Blackwood Bullets team who were top until last week. It was a very tight and tense start to this one, with it being a local derby as well. But it was Cottage who threatened more early on with chances for Kane Darkes and James Jones upfront. Indeed it was Cottage who took the lead. With a fine goal from Kane Darkes cutting in from the left to finish well. Blackwood then turned it up just before half time and had a couple of good chances of there own but 1-0 it stayed for the first half. Early on in the second half Cottage pressured again and they finally managed the second mid-way through from a corner taken from the right by Alex Sutton, the ball rather striking the foot of Jordan Callow and rolled in at the far corner. Then with a defensive lapse of concentration for 5 minutes, inviting pressure from Blackwood who came close again only to be denied by some great keeping by Jamie Rowe. All credit to the defence though who regained their composure and dealt with the pressure well. The last 5 minutes Cottage made the game safe with goals from Kane Darkes who found acres of space through the middle, ran half the pitch and netted for his second of the game and the fourth from Tommy Watlow who must have run past 4 or 5 Blackwood players on route to goal, to roll the ball past the keeper as cool as you like. 4-0 was the result in Cottages toughest test so far this season. Well done lads! Man of the Match was Danny Butcher for an outstanding game at full back.

07/10/2006 - Stonydelph Boys Reds 1 - 8 Cottage Farm Rangers

The opponents this week for CFR Under 11’s were Stonydelph Reds. After a 2 week rest for Cottage the lads didn’t get out of the blocks at all for most of the first half, this said they still managed a 3-0 half time lead. The goals coming from firstly Kane Darkes, pinching the ball of the Stonydelph full back attacked the space inside and stroked the ball into the far corner of the goal. The second goal came from James ‘Jim Bo’ Jones, after an excellent low cross with his LEFT foot from Kane Darkes, James finishing it off with a mis-kick from the edge of the area but hey they all count! The third came from Alex Sutton still scoring goals for fun. His came from a corner and when a goal mouth scramble fell his way he took it well. The second half was much the same story with Cottage doing enough to get through but not really playing the standard of football they can. Lots of chances went begging for Cottage early on though and Stonydelph never stopped battling and most of their pressure come down our left, handled very very well by Luke Upton who just continues to impress. After giving James Jones a rest on the side and having a quick chat about his finishing, he then went back on and showed everybody watching he was listening by scoring the two he needed for his first hat-trick of the season. His second came from a through ball from midfield and coolly took the ball round the keeper and slotted it home and the third was very coolly taken placing the ball home right into the corner. Another hat-trick was scored though, this one by guess who, Alex Sutton. One goal sticking in mind as a potential goal of season. Dribbling the ball all of 40- 50 yards beating player after player then rifling past the keeper. Then after a good little spell from Stonydelph they scored through a goal mouth scramble from a corner which was chipped over the head of Jamie in goal. Only the first goal the lads had conceded. Then Tommy Watlow put the icing on the cake using his pace to reach a ball over the top and finished it well. This left the final score 8-1, not the most eye catching of performances but the lads took the win comfortably. Man of the Match was Luke Upton for his hard work and determination to win the ball and lay it off.

16/09/2006 - Stonydelph Boys Blacks 0 - 8 Cottage Farm Rangers

A scrappy start to this one, neither team being able to get the ball down and play. With virtually all pressure coming from Cottage though, the lads broke through mid-way through the first half with an extremely well struck free kick from the skipper Kane Darkes. This goal settled Cottage down a bit and the spectators started to see glimpses of the football they are more than capable of. The pressure was starting to tell on Stonydelph, leading to Cottage scoring twice in relatively quick succession from firstly James Jones who capitalised on a mistake in the Stonydelph defence and slotted the ball home. Then Alex Sutton struck after some good passing football in and around the penalty area, he placed the ball right into the far corner. Cottage went in at half time 3-0 up and the second half was even more one sided with the Cottage defence stopping anything and everything. Jamie Rowe in goal touched the ball once in the second half I believe. The lads confidence was growing and they were getting more adventurous with the holding player in midfield Luke Lawson pushing further forward and scoring a well earned goal from a corner with his knee! Connor ‘Goldy’ Goldingay popped up at the back post again and rolled the ball home from a few yards out for his second in as many games from the right side of midfield. James Jones got his second of the game, working tirelessly upfront. Then Alex Sutton capped off a very good second half performance from all the lads with two more goals to complete his hat-trick. Both of them very well struck shots from outside the area. This made the final score line 8-0 and it could have been more if I’m honest. That is now 10 goals scored in 2 games and non conceded, keep it up lads! Man of the Match was Alex Sutton for his well earned hat-trick.

09/09/2006 - Amington Juniors 0 - 2 Cottage Farm Rangers

05/08/2006 - Coton Green 1 - 6 Cottage Farm Rangers

After a tight and scrappy start the first goal came after 10 minutes when good work and a great low cross across the 6 yard box from Connor Goldingay, resulting in tap in at the far post for Tom Watlow. A couple more chances went begging for Cottage Farm before Coton Green pinched a very coolly taken equaliser. This kicked Cottage Farm into gear and took the lead again shortly after, some good possession in the middle of the park found its way out to Tom Watlow wide on the left and with a great run (all of 40 yards) into the Coton penalty area, slotted the ball past the keeper (Thierry Henry Style). Coton almost replied again just before half time narrowly putting the ball wide. The 2^nd half was very much our half, dominating from the whistle. After seeing good efforts and chances fall away very early on in the half from Kane Darkes and Oli O’Connor, Cottage managed to put some daylight between the two sides. After some neat passing down the left, this lead to a good 1-2 in the penalty area between Alex Sutton and Kane Darkes, resulted in Alex Sutton squeezing the ball home at the near post for his first goal for the club. Then the goals kept coming, Cottage Farms 4^th of the game brought a very well deserved hat-trick Tom Watlows way. Then the captain got in on the act with some good skill on the edge of the area to beat the last man and blast the ball past the Coton keeper. The last goal came from a quick break from midfield from a throw on the right. Alex Sutton scoring his second of the game rifling to the far corner from just inside the area. A 6-1 result, the man of the match was Tom Watlow, a great effort by all the lads in there first 11 a side game.