In a top-of-the table clash full of good football from both teams, the second and third placed teams in the league played each other under floodlights at the Welfare.

The match started with Cotgrave appearing to have slightly more possession and holding the ball competently in the East Valley half of the pitch. Lewis Hopkinson and Max Robertson worked hard on the wings to try and find space, but the East Valley full-backs held them up well. The midfield was extremely crowded, with both teams playing three central players, and Aidan Sheppard, Luke Black and Harry Normington rarely found the opportunity to release their passes.

East Valley’ s forwards were extremely quick and central defenders Ben Halcro and James Staples had to be constantly aware of their position. However, in the first half East Valley were unable to create a clear goal scoring opportunity, despite getting behind the defence on as couple of occasions, thanks to good covering by full-backs Thomas Staples and Elliott Coulthard-Gaunt.

The best chance of the half fell to Robertson, who used his pace to break through the defence, but his shot went just wide of the post.

Nil-nil at half time.

Within five minutes of the re-start Robertson ran down the inside right channel and fed the ball through to Jordan Cumberland. Through on the keeper Cumberland finished clinically to give Cotgrave the lead.

David Young was now playing on the left wing and battling hard. Kit Weir joined the centre of the midfield and, whilst Cotgrave seemed to have control of the match, the pace of East Valley‘ s main striker was constantly causing problems. On one break his shot seemed destined to score before the ball ended up in the arms of keeper Nathan Burgin.

In the forty-fifth minute Robertson used his pace to take the ball from the half-way line, past the East Valley defence and with only the keeper to beat he slipped the ball into the net to extend Cotgrave’ s lead. Matthew Hodgett and Kris McCann were introduced into midfield and Cotgrave looked to consolidate. East Valley, however, had other ideas and looked to grab a goal back as soon as possible. Seven minutes later, and with only eight minutes remaining, the pace of East Valley‘ s forward saw him break through again, and this time he calmly slot the ball past Burgin to reduce the deficit.

East Valley saw their chance to claim a point and put the Cotgrave defence under pressure. But Cotgrave responded well, with Halcro in particular standing out, and the match finished 2-1 to Cotgrave.

A good win against quality opposition.

Man of the Match - Max Robertson