These two teams lined up against each other for the second time in a week and produced a match that looked as if they knew each other too well.

From the kick-off Cotgrave‘s passing was not up to their usual high standards, and the early play saw West Bridgford forcing Cotgrave to defend. James Staples and Thomas Staples were solid and produced some ‘no nonsense‘ defending to ensure that West Bridgford failed to convert their pressure into shots on goal. Gradually Cotgrave began to show glimpses of their usual form with Kit Weir and Aidan Sheppard angling some good passes out to Max Robertson and Lewis Hopkinson on the wings.

In the ninth minute a Hopkinson corner was half cleared by West Bridgford to the edge of their area. Sheppard laid the ball back to Ben Halcro who hit a rising shot high into the net to open the scoring. Cotgrave then pushed forward more with Harry Normington providing good support from midfield and Luke Black linking well with Jordan Cumberland in attack. On sixteen minutes an excellent run from Hopkinson saw him break into the area before pulling the ball back to Sheppard, who placed the ball past the West Bridgford keeper to extend Cotgrave’s lead.

Although Cotgrave were now controlling the match, West Bridgford never stopped working hard and would not let Cotgrave settle.

The second-half continued as the first, with very little happening in either penalty area. Kris McCann took over on the right wing and Matthew Hodgett at right back, from where he delivered some good forward passes. David Young and Elliott Coulthard-Gaunt tried to drive the team forward from midfield, but Cotgrave’s best efforts came from long-range shots. Cumberland and Thomas Staples looking the most likely to score.

In the forty-third minute Cotgrave were awarded a free-kick just outside the area for hand ball. Halcro stepped up and fired the ball low into the corner of the net for his second of the match and Cotgrave’s third. This goal seemed to provide the catalyst for some dangerous attacks from West Bridgford, with Nathan Burgin making an outstanding double save when a West Bridgford forward broke through and looked certain to score. The match then drifted towards a close, to end a hard but successful week for Cotgrave.

Man of the Match - Lewis Hopkinson