Squad: James Bennett, Clarke Dabell, Harrison Dowzell, Kieran Harris, Jacob Hill, Jordan Hopkinson, Luke Hopper, Liam Hutchinson, Luis Parkes, Luke Sissons, Adam Ward, Ben Weir.

A nice sunny morning for our first Cup match in U8 Sunday Group A: away to Bingham Town Red. Starting line-up: Adam, Luke S, Jacob, Jordan, Harry, Liam, Kieran.

The match began as a quite even contest; a good Kieran shot from a clever Jordan pass was well saved; then Jacob shot just wide from distance – what a goal that would have been! Then Bingham really got going, making some chances and winning a few corners, before producing a good move from a throw-in to score the first goal. A few minutes later, from another Bingham throw-in, Cotgrave failed a few times to control the bouncing ball and a smart finish saw Bingham take a two-goal lead – maybe this just wasn’t going to be Cotgrave’s day. Luis came on for Liam, who had worked hard up-front. Cotgrave weren’t really on their game, and needed a spark. Adam saved well to keep Cotgrave in with a chance, but then Jordan went down hurt and had to go off, so Ben came on early. A great Bingham shot hit the bar; Cotgrave were reeling now. Harry managed to find a good pass to Luis, but the chance fell to Luis’s left foot: nothing was really working. Bingham won three more corners, which Cotgrave defended well: Luke S made a great block, and Adam another save. Half-time: 2-0 to Bingham Town Red.

Second half starting line-up: Adam, Clarke, Ben, Harry, Luis, James, Luke H. Could Cotgrave get back in the match? Both sides made chances. Bingham won several corners, which were well taken, and they went close to scoring from some of them, with one effort hitting the post. Luis came close to scoring more than once, and won a free-kick just outside the penalty area, before being replaced by Jordan. Harry strove to threaten the Bingham goal; James got some tackles in; Clarke and Ben held firm at the back. Harry was starting to get going more, but time was now against a real Cotgrave recovery. Kieran came on for James. Then a breakthrough at last: Harry dribbled and raced through to find the net: 2-1 to Bingham. Just a few minutes left: could Cotgrave ‘get out of jail?’ Luke S came on Clarke. Harry got the ball for one last effort: a flashing run and clinical finish – an equalising goal! The scores were level at 2-2. The game had no sooner restarted than the final whistle went. Cotgrave stole a point.

With a scrambled draw, Cotgrave earned a point to start the cup campaign. Although it wasn’t one of our best performances, well done boys for a very good fight-back, but overall (with two shots against the woodwork) Bingham really deserved to win. Ben was Man of the Match for his all-round efforts.

The reporter apologises if he got any substitutions wrong; his writing fingers got cold, and the manager made as many changes as Erickson did in England friendlies!