Penarth Sport

Cogan's convincing victory over league leaders

7:50am Thursday 18th March 2010

PARK VILLA 1 COGAN 5

COGAN visited the table-topping Park Villa and came way with a convincing victory.

Cogan dominated from the start and took the lead after only 5 minutes when midfield general Kevin Clark released Scott Rattenbury on the edge of the box, Rattenbury squeezed a delicate through pass into the path of his brother Craig, who still had a lot to do but showed his confidence by clipping a low right-footed drive beyond the exposed keeper.

Cogan were in control with the back four of Joe Taylor, Sean Daly, Martin Thomas and Nathan Pine in commanding form at the back, snuffing out the Villa attack.

Cogan should have increased their lead and only a string of five saves from the Villa keeper denied Rattenbury, Mantle and Swaffield.

Villa's first serious attack came on 35 minutes when they were awarded a corner, the ball came into the box and Cogan keeper Dean Ford pulled off a wonderful save to tip a bullet-like header over the bar, but in the process injured himself.

Villa drew level against the run of play with the final attack of the half when captain Jeff White's header flew into the net from a free kick.

Cogan replaced keeper Ford on half time with player coach Graham Rattenbury. Cogan soon took control of the game with midfield terriers Kevin Clark and Richard Reynolds in ruthless form.

From a Villa attack, Kevin Clark stole the ball and quickly released Craig Rattenbury who raced through on goal only to be brought down just outside the box. Up stepped Kevin Clark to dispatch the free kick into the top corner to put his side 2-1 up.

Cogan soon scored again with a sweeping move involving Mantle, Clark and Reynolds who put Craig Rattenbury through on goal. His shot was well saved by the Villa keeper only for the ball to fall to Scott Rattenbury who made no mistake on the follow-up.

Cogan then replaced Mantle with Ben Donovan and Ryan Mcarthy went on for Scott Rattenbury. Cogan soon made it four when Craig Rattenbury controlled a Kevin Clark pass before fending off two defenders and slamming his drive into the top corner.

Cogan left the best goal for last. The Villa keeper came out to snuff out a Cogan attack, and he sent the ball just into the centre circle.

It fell to Ryan Mcarthy who in a flash saw the keeper off his line, and sent a sweeping shot over his head for a very special goal to make it 5-1.

Man of the Match for Cogan was Kevin Clark who worked tirelessly all over the pitch.

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