Cottage Farm Rangers Under 15s

Reports:

 

13/05/2007 - Hurley Kings 3 - 2 Cottage Farm Rangers

 

In a game played in awful conditions on a very slippery pitch in torrential rain, the lads put in a good performance and probably did not deserve to lose but football is like that. Whilst not playing as well as in the last game, the lads put in lots of effort and played some good football at times. Well taken goals from Dobbo and  from Phil Barker were never quite enough to give us the points we wanted but a good game none the less.

 

02/05/2007 - Cottage Farm Rangers 3 - 1 Measham Welfare

 

This has been a very good week, after the fantastic game and occasion last Sunday, the lads turn up and produce another very good performance. After two previous defeats against the long term league leaders, we turned and played from the kick off and for the full 80 minutes. From the start we showed a lot of determination and desire, plenty of support for each other and no small amount of good football. Rob Booth in goal again pulled off some splendid saves and the defence of Bradley Pilsworth, Lance Bishop, James Hirons and Matthew Edkins were superb with Tom West a revelation as sweeper. The midfield of Kieran Darkes, Jack Dodd and Ali Mehmet were immense and superbly led by example by skipper Luke Turner. Up front Eddie Poultney and Phil Barker always gave the defence a lot of trouble with their constant running and probing. Phil Barker slotted the first goal in the first half after the Measham keeper misjudged the bounce. Eddie Poultney scored the second with a cool finish after some good play and a good run and after Eddie was brought down in the box, Luke Turner coolly converted the penalty.

We need to keep building on the good performances of recent weeks, we have set a new standard which we need to match week in and week out. We have proved we can play some very good football and that we can beat some good teams but we now have to do it consistently. Keep it going lads!

 

29/04/2007 -     John Schofield Memorial Shield:

                        Atherstone Rangers 3 - 1 Cottage Farm Rangers

 

This was a very good advert for local football and a very good game of football on a special occasion which I'm sure John would have been very pleased with. Atherstone started off very brightly and took an early lead with a superb strike into the top corner of the net. They continued to dominate the early exchanges but slowly but surely, the lads started to get back into the game and cause problems of their own. We managed to hold the score at 0 - 1 through some good and sometimes last ditch defending but also some very good defending and some excellent goalkeeping by Rob Booth.

The second half turned into a very entertaining end to end game with both teams creating chances and Atherstone extended their lead. To their credit, the lads didn't give up and with Luke Turner having a very good game in the centre of midfield, the lads got better and their hard work was rewarded when Eddie Poultney, also having a fine game got his reward with a well taken goal. Atherstone eventually killed the game with their third, another good goal as they all were in this game.

Dave Latchford, the former Blues keeper, awarded Rob Booth with a signed ball as The Cottage Farm Man of the Match and said how much he enjoyed the game, but the all of the lads played well and contributed hugely to  very good game on a special day. Well done lads, Alan and I are proud of you!!

 

25/04/2007 - Cottage Farm Rangers 1 - 5 Hurley Kings

 

Cottage Farm  started off this game very well, closing down well, supporting each other and playing some very good football. It was no surprise that we took the lead with a goal from Phil Barker, indeed we should have scored more but missed some good chances. Hurley came back into the game when they scored an equaliser through a defensive error. Unfortunately, in the second half we lost our shape partly due to injuries and resulting changes and partly due to the lads taking their foot off the gas. A lesson to be learned here, playiung some good football is not enough, we must have the hard work with it!

 

15/04/2007 - Cottage Farm Rangers 7 - 3 Baddesley Colts

 

What a game this was! Probably the best game of the season for us! Not because we scored seven or because we won, but the way that we won and the fact we kept going to the very end that is what really impressed me. From the kick off, we were sharp and really up for it which is just how it should be. Two early goals helped, the first two of a "Magnificent Seven" from Eddie Poultney, all well taken. Even after conceding a sloppy goal, we went back at them with fire in our bellies and a determination that has been lacking in the past. From number one to eleven, and twelve and thirteen, every player wanted and did play some very good football, not panicking, but helping each other, supporting each other which is what football is all about. There were some fantastic moves right from the back all the way through the team, fantastic to watch, I might even pay to watch that football!! It was really a great team performance, from everyone. That might be a strange thing to say when one player has such an impact as Eddie did. It is a rare feat for a player to score seven (&) goals in a game, even rarer for it to be all seven, and it would have been eight if Eddie hadn't unselfishly passed to Phil Barker to score when the goal was at his mercy, unfortunately Phil had just drifted offside. Lads, we now have to show everyone that that was not a flash in the pan, that we can play like that consistently. If we do that, we can still finish fourth, remember a few weeks ago, Baddesley bet Measham!!

 

25/03/2007 - Hurley Kings 3 - 2 Cottage Farm Rangers

 

Ultimately, a few costly mistakes cost us in this game. We played some good football, very good at times, but just the odd error was the difference. The work rate was very good as was the determination. We are still trying to play too much down the centre of the pitch, we need to spread the play a bit more. Rob Booth in goal was excellent as usual as was Lee Thumpston at the heart of the defence and James Hirons at left back. Eddie Poultney and Phil Barker were lively up front and caused plenty of problems and the midfield worked hard in defence and supporting the attack. We also got caught in possession too often, partly the player in possession's fault but also partly due to his team mates not supporting him quickly enough or talking to him. All in all, not a bad performance but we need to cut out the mistakes.  

 

18/03/2007 - Snarestone Globe 1 - 5 Cottage Farm Rangers

 

A good performance today in appalling conditions which eventually beat us as we had to abandon the game with about 6 minutes left as the wind and hail got so bad it was impossible to face it or to see up the pitch. Against a depleted Snarestone side we, at times, played some good football but at times we tried to play through the middle too much and had some promising moves snuffed out. With better finishing, the score would have been higher but none the less a good win. Goals from Dobbo (2), Eddie Poultney, Tom West and Phil Barker sealed the victory.

 

11/03/2007 - Cottage Farm Rangers 0 - 0 Amington Jnr Diamonds

 

A very good hard working performance from the lads today, probably the best battling performance of the season if not the best football, but sometimes that is what you have to do. We were a little slack in the first 10 minutes but once we sorted ourselves out we became very solid and difficult to break down. All of the defence did well but Bradley Pilsworth had a particularly good game as did stand in left back James Hirons on the other side. Lance Bishop got stronger as the game went on and Lee Thumpston was his normal solid, reliable self. The midfield was much better with Luke Turner and Jack Dodd working hard and did very well in an uncompromising battle in the centre and Tom West and Kieran Darkes created openings out wide and also worked tirelessly. Up front, Eddie Poultney had a superb game and Thomas Dobson wasn't far behind. Subs Phil Barker and Ali Mehmet also showed some good touches and continued the hard working philosophy. Well done lads, can we play better football, yes, but if the performances continue like this we won't lose too many. 

 

18/02/2007 - Measham Welfare 6 - 2 Cottage Farm Rangers

 

The performance was not as bad as the score line suggests, definitely some lessons to be learned tough. Measham were too strong and too sharp for us on the day although there was some very good defending and some very good football played by us. Lee Thumpston had a very good game at the back closely followed by Matthew Edkins. Up front, Eddie Poultney was lively and dangerous as were Mark Liddell and Thomas Dobson. We did however give them far too much time on the ball, something that they didn't allow us to have which we must address. We also dwelt too long on the ball at times allowing them to get back at us, even if the pass was on. When we did pass the ball early we looked dangerous and created chances. Being 0 - 6 down at one stage was an injustice but we didn't give up and came back with two very good goals, the first converted by Mark Liddell after a great run by Eddie Poultney and the second a stunning 35 yard strike from James Hirons.

 

28/01/2007 - Coton Green 4 - 3 Cottage Farm Rangers

 

Another mixed performance with some very good things and some sloppy things taking place. Starting against the wind, we started slowly and quickly behind when a Coton Green player had a free header from a corner with no one at all challenging. This soon became two when an uncharacteristic error by Rob Booth in goal allowed the second. After about twenty minutes, we started getting back into the game and started mounting some attacks of our own. The main reason for this was that we started getting the ball wide and used the space. We managed to get a goal back when a good Kieran Darkes free-kick produced a scramble in their box which eventually resulted in Phil Barker slotting it home.

Early in the second half we had to replace Lance Bishop and Matthew Edkins due to injuries and move things around but that does not account for the lapses in concentration that allowed Coton Green two more goals. There was no lack of effort or desire from most players but some just switched off and that is what cost us. We did not give up though and after another good move the ball fell to Dobbo on the left to smash home past the keeper. In the final minute, Eddie Poultney was played through into the box and was brought down allowing Luke Turner to step  up and confidentally tuck the penalty home.

We have to keep up the hard work  and step it up a bit more, we must keep playing football, but do it all the time and keep getting the ball wide and we must not lose concentration.

 

21/01/2007 - Amington Jnr Diamonds 1 - 0 Cottage Farm Rangers

 

A game of two halves this one. In the first half with the wind, we played some very good football at times and worked hard. We are still capable of playing much better football than they did today, we need to want the ball more and to move quicker to support the player on the ball, in fact play at a higher tempo. We are more than capable of winning these games but we have to want to more, that is four single goal defeats on the trot and all of them we could have won. We had one or two players today who just weren't up for it and it showed. We need all the players playing for each other and we will improve no end. Some players did very well today, as a whole we defended well with skipper Lee Thumpston leading the way, Tom West and Dobbo in midfield worked hard and were involved in some very good moves and Phil Barker up front had another very good game. The others can learn a lot from Phil for the effort he puts in, the determination to win the ball when he has no right, for the runs he makes, for the pressure he puts on the opposition. We could and probably should have been two goals up at half time and this is what cost us. We were pinned back for long periods in the second half and defended well but Amington got the killer goal. I say as I said after the last game, do we want it badly enough boys?

 

07/01/2007 - Major Cup:

                     Atherstone Rangers 2 - 1 Cottage Farm Rangers

 

Another cup game, another first division team, another good performance! After not playing for five weeks, you could have expected the lads to be rather rusty but they were obviously up for this game and not about to give up without a fight. With Lance Bishop still not recovered from the ankle injury he sustained before Christmas, Bradley Pilsworth switched to centre half and Matthew Edkins moved to right back with James Hirons coming in at left back. With Lee Thumpston playing his normal solid reliable game, these guys all played very well in defence and in front of them the whole squad played well and played some very good football. In fact in the first half we should probably have taken the lead having three very good chances especially James Hirons free kick from 25 yards that hit the bar and bounced down. Football is a funny game though and often you don't get what you deserve and we certainly didn't deserve to go in at half time a goal down which we did when a speculative shot from 30 yards caught in the wind  and flew into the top corner giving Rob Booth in goal no chance.

The second half saw Atherstone dominate more and create more chances and they extended their lead after a sloppy piece of play in midfield let them in. The lads did not give up and kept battling, and with Rob Booth in very good form in goal, keeping us in it at one end, a superb volley from 30 yards from Kieran Darkes brought us back into the game and was no more than we deserved. Unfortunately, with the light fading we couldn't quite manage the equalizer but the lads could not be faulted for their effort which was first class. Some of the football and support play was very goodwhich we are more than capable of improving on. We haven't yet seen the best of this team yet, but with the effort and determination shown today and more consistency in the football  and supporting players on the ball, then we can certainly start climbing the table. Do we want it badly enough boys?

 

03/12/2006 - Cottage Farm Rangers 2 - 3 Baddesley Colts

 

This was a game of good parts and bad parts but probably a game we should have won. We started off very well, playing some good football and creating openings. In the fifth minute, one such very good move resulted in Luke Turner bundling the ball into the net from a good cross. The defence looked solid, the midfield worked hard and supported well and the attack looked very lively. We created a few chances but unfortunately didn't convert any of them. Baddesley came back into the game and began to threaten and eventually got the equaliser. The second half followed a similar pattern with periods of good play but also periods where we stood off the Baddesley players and allowed them time to play and they were winning the ball too easily. After James Hirons got the second direct from a corner, this failure to do the hard work cost us dearly, that and the failure to convert our chances. We played some very good football at times, but at times isn't enough, we must try to play our good football for the full 80 minutes and we will win a lot more than we lose!!

 

19/11/2006 - Cottage Farm Rangers 2 - 3 Coton Green

 

An explosive start to this game, four goals in the first fifteen minutes! Only problem was we were two goals up. We had a good start to this game, playing some good football and scoring two goals, the first from Tom West after a scramble and the second a good header from Lee Thumpston. We then took our foot of the gas and stopped concentrating and Coton Green came straight back to pull one goal back and minutes later they got an extra man free down our left side to grab the equaliser. Coton green then took control for the better part of the first half as Cottage struggled.

The second half saw some changes made in personnel and positions and this spurred Cottage on. The game see-sawed from end to end with both teams going close and both goalkeepers pulling off some fantastic saves. Cottage also missed a penalty before Coton Green came back to score what became the winning goal.

We need to work harder and get the ball down and play the football we are capable of playing.

 

05/11/2006 - Cottage Farm Rangers 1 - 3 Coton Green

 

You never know with this team who is going to show up, I don't mean physically but mentally. There were 16 players there today but not many brought their footballing heads with them. The talent in this team is as good in any team I've seen this season, but to bring that talent out needs hard work, and hard work each and every game. Without the hard work, the talent doesn't show. Mentally today we weren't tough enough, determined enough or didn't want to win enough, we were going through the motions mentally and so we were going through the motions physically. At times we put some very good moves together  including a very good goal scored by Eddie Poultney and set up by Luke Turner. But there weren't nearly enough good moves in 80 minutes.. They need to play with their heads and think about what they are doing, where should I be, what should I be doing, getting to the ball first, winning it and then keeping it. My question to the players, what are you going to do about it?

 

22/10/2006 - Snarestone Globe 1 - 8 Cottage Farm Rangers

 

Against a depleted Snarestone side, Cottage Farm needed to adopt a good attitude and play football properly and this they duly did. They got off to a very good start when Mark Liddell scored a cracking goal in the first couple of minutes only for Tom West to do exactly the same a few minutes later. This enabled the lads to settle down and to play football which they did try to do. The only criticisms were that they were trying to shoot from too far out for a time and weren't getting the ball wide. But the lads to their credit learned their lesson and started to play with more width and it paid dividends. Mark Liddell added his second and Eddie Poultney got his usual goal.

The second half was very similar in that Cottage had the majority of the play but to their credit the Snarestone lads didn't give up and their lively forwards caused one or two problems on the break and indeed pulled one goal back after an error and/or a bad bounce. This spurred the Cottage lads on and they produced their best spell of football with some very good passing and touches. The goals came immediately with Phil Barker getting two good goals, Mark Liddell got a well-deserved hat-trick with another well taken goal and Luke Turner capped off a very good display with a fine shot from the edge of the box.

A very good display all round again with the defence looking solid under the leadership of Lee Thumpston, very well supported by Lance Bishop, Jack Dodd and Bradley Pilsworth. The midfield worked hard and were at the centre of all the good football with Ali Mehmet breaking up the Snarestone attacks well and Luke Turner, Tom West, Dobbo and Jack Gaunt producing a string of good balls for the forwards. Mark Liddell, Phil Barker and Eddie Poultney had a field day with the plentiful supply they received. I asked for consistency today and got it, now we have to do it next game, and the one after, and the one after that........and keep playing the good football. Well done lads, lets keep it going!!

 

 

15/10/2006 - Invitstion Cup:

                     Cottage Farm Rangers 4 - 6  Polesworth Swifts

 

If you want an action packed game to watch, you should have been at Belgrave today. Two good teams went at it hammer and tongs and what a game they produced. Some excellent football on both sides, end to end football, lots of goalmouth action, excellent passing moves, some great defending, the list is endless and there was no lack of effort either. After going a goal down, Cottage hit back with a good goal from a well worked corner taken by Luke Turner, flicked on by Eddie Poultney for Bradley Pilsworth to side-foot into the net, the work on the training ground did come off! Then we took the lead when a good move resulted in Tom West sliding the ball home from eight yards. Polesworth pulled one back before we again took the lead as some very good build up play started from James Hirons at left back resulted in a neat passing move the length of the pitch with Dobbo hitting it home from eight yards. Three - two up at the interval, what a very good 40 minutes.

Polesworth came out strong in the second half and two early goals put Cottage on the back foot but to their credit, the lads never gave up and still went forward in search of an equaliser. But football can be a cruel game and Polesworth got a fifth but again Cottage would not give up and Jack Gaunt scored a  very good fourth when his lob from the corner of the box sailed into the far corner of the net. The final twist of the knife saw, would you believe, the third own goal for Polesworth restoring their two goal advantage. Numerous second half injuries didn't help including keeper Rob Booth having to leave the field after another splendid game but all the players again performed really well, a real credit to themselves and the club. Some notable performances from skipper Lee Thumpston and from Eddie Poultney and Luke Turner but all of the players played well giving the manager some real problems with team selection, but good problems. What we need now is consistency and we can be a very good team.

 

01/10/2006 - Amington Jnrs Diamonds 3 - 2 Cottage Farm Rangers

 

A strange game this one. After the previous very impressive performance, another confident commanding display was expected but the start was very slow and subdued, indeed we were a goal down in three minutes. This did though wake us up and the impressive centre backs Lee Thumpston and Lance Bishop did very well stemming the Amington attacks as did Ali Mehmet in front of them with this hard work and determination. There seemed to be a lack of urgency about the performance though and the work rate wasn't as good as it should have been.

After a half time chat, the lads started the second half much better and really pressed the Amington defence. The equalizer wasn't too long in coming when a good move resulted in Thomas Dobson firing in from the corner of the box. The pressure told on the Amington defence again when they conceded a free kick just outside the penalty area. Kieran Darkes stepped forward and tucked the ball into the bottom corner although there was more than a suspicion of a mis-kick but they all count. As the lads took their foot of the gas, Amington to their credit came storming back and scored two more, both of which should have been dealt with. A mixed performance from the lads with some very good play at times, but at other times there wasn't enough hard work or urgency. Verdict: they can play much better.

 

24/09/2006 - Baddesley Colts 2 - 5 Cottage Farm Rangers

 

What a difference a week makes. This was a big improvement on last week's second half display - by everyone. From the kick-off, the Cottage Farm team worked hard, closed down the opposition, tried to pass the ball around and looked like they wanted it. The defence with Lance Bishop in commanding form and with skipper Lee Thumpston organising well looked solid as did the midfield with Ali Mehmet and Luke Turner competing well in the centre and Tom West and Thomas Dobson  looking lively out wide. Eddie Poultney was a constant threat to the Baddesley defence ably supported by James Hirons making his first start. Cottage took a 3 - 0 lead through an Eddie Poultney penalty, Dobbo and James Hirons, all well taken goals. Before half time, probably the only mistake of the half by the Cottage defence saw them wait for a whistle which didn't come which allowed Baddesley to get a goal back.

The second half saw James Hirons switch into defence in place of the ill Matthew Edkins and Phil Barker coming on up front. Phil was a constant thorn in the Baddesley defence's side and never gave them a minute's peace as he and Eddie Poultney cam close on numerous occasions to increasing the lead. It didn't happen, and with one or two players tiring Baddesley came more into the game and grabbed a second. Indeed they then were awarded a penalty as Cottage had a bit of a panic for 10 minutes but this was missed. With some more fresh legs on, Cottage again took the game to Baddesley and Eddie Poultney wrapped up a deserved hat-trick with two more smart goals. This basically wrapped the game up. A very good performance by all 15 players on the day, they showed a great deal of commitment and desire and a very high work rate, which allowed them to play some good football. Player of the Match: Eddie Poultney, not only for his very good hat-trick but also for his work rate and vision in bringing others into the game. In defence Lance Bishop was commanding as was Lee Thumpston who led the side well.

 

17/09/2006 - Measham Welfare 4 - 1 Cottage Farm Rangers

 

This was definitely a game of two halves. Measham are a new team to the League and will be an asset, they possess some very good, strong players and play good football. The first half was very competitive and very even with both sides working hard, closing people down and playing some very good football. Eddie Poultney and Luke Turner linked well up front and constantly threatened,  the midfield battled hard and supplied some good balls through and the defence stood up well to the quick Measham forwards and Rob Booth in goal was his usual dominant self. The game remained competitive and close throughout the half with both sides going close before in the dying minutes of the half Tom West was brought down in the penalty area for Eddie Poultney to step up to convert the penalty.

The second half was completely different after a couple of changes for Cottage. Measham were given far too much room and allowed to play. The marking became slack and Measham took full advantage. Three of the four goals conceded were sloppy and should have been prevented and the work rate was simply not good enough. Verdict: can do a lot better and must! Player of the Match: Rob Booth for some very impressive goalkeeping followed by Eddie Poultney for his vision and inventiveness and all round play up front.

 

29/08/2006 - Overseal 4 - 2 Cottage Farm Rangers

 

Against a strong Overseal which has been strengthened for their new season in Division 1, Cottage Farm played some good football after a slow start and competed well. Missing three players, Cottage went 2 goals down due to some

sloppy defending but slowly raised their game. A quick free-kick just inside the Overseal half put Eddie Poultney away and he duly tucked the ball away into the bottom corner. Even better was to come when a free-kick was awarded 25 yards out, Kieran Darkes stepped up to smash it into the roof of the net. In the final quarter of the game, a bit of tiredness crept in and possibly a bit of laziness and Overseal went on to score two more. A fair result against a good team who threatened down both flanks.

 

26/07/2006 - Cottage Farm Rangers 0 - 1 Tampa Bay Spirit Soccer

The Under15s lost their friendly game 0 - 1 against Spirit Soccer from Tampa Bay in Florida. The game started with the temperature at 30.5 degrees Celsius (87 degrees Fahrenheit) so that and the fact it was our first game since April certainly gave an advantage to the American team. The Cottage Farm team were understandably rusty and had no flow to their game in the first half and failed to really breakthrough the American's defence whereas the American broke quickly and put a lot of pressure on the home defence. But the home defence stood up to the task well and when they were beaten, keeper Ali Mehmet was in good form to keep the game even. Plenty of drinks breaks were taken and plenty of substitutions were made in the sweltering heat. The second half became an end to end affair with both teams creating chances. The American team created chances and hit the top of the crossbar and had one cleared off the line, but Cottage Farm also created chances and had one cleared off the line, did it go in? With six minutes to go, the Cottage Farm defence went absent leaving the attacker to pounce on a short back pass to get the only goal of the game. To their credit, the Cottage Farm team did not fade in the heat, if anything they got stronger and certainly better and played some good football after the break. The American lads showed they are quick learners as they played some very good football also. A very good competitive game but played in a good spirit, we will look forward to a re-match next year. Thank to our visitors for a good game, played and supported in a really good spirit and thank you to Simon Burnley from Belgrave High School for organising it.