Fixtures

 

Results

13/9/08 - Cresconians C 3 - 3 Coton Green AFA

27/9/08 - Old Wulfrunians D 4 - 1 Coton Green AFA

4/10/08 - Coton Green AFA 0 - 3 Royal Heath Rangers

18/10/08 - Coton Green AFA 2 - 3 Dosthill Boys

25/10/08 - Shelfield Rangers 3 - 2 Coton Green AFA

1/11/08 - Coton Green AFA 3 - 2 Crusaders B

8/11/08 - Coton Green AFA 3 - 7 Handsworth Grammar Old Boys B

15/11/08 - Coton Green 0 - 1 Wood Wanderers

22/11/08 - Bentley Heath 1 - 3 Coton Green AFA

6/12/08 - Coton Green AFA 3 - 4 Cosmopolitans

 

League Table

For A Constantly Update League Table, Please Visit: http://www.firstresults.co.uk/division_home.php?divisionID=69&leagueID=25&groupID=

Match Reports

Cresconians 3 - 3 Coton Green FC

This was Coton's first game of the new season and they showed a lot of determination to come back twice to earn a point.

Coton started slowly and found themselves a goal down after 10 minutes after a tremendous cross/shot found its way into the top corner. Coton went further behind when a mix up in their defence allowed an easy second to be slotted home. Good chances fell to both Baker and Bassett to pull goals back but it took a well flighted free kick from Daz Hill, with 10 minutes of the first half remaining to give the visitors some hope at half time.

Coton dominated the second half and the equaliser came mid way through the half when a Baker corner was headed in at the near post by Hunter, scoring his first goal for the Club in 7 years. Pushing for the winner Coton got caught out when a long kick from the keeper bounced agonisingly over the defence allowing the Cresconians striker to put the hosts in front once again.

Undeterred Coton kept plugging away and were rewarded with 10 minutes to go when Wayne Hewins lashed a shot through a crowded penalty area giving the keeper no chance.

Coton kept pushing for the winner and had several chances late on but in the end had to settle for a well-earned point.

Coton Green AFA 2 - 3 Dosthill Boys

Coton entertained Division 4 side Dosthill in the first round of the Intermediate Cup and suffered a narrow defeat after a close fought game. After a sluggish start Coton quickly found themselves a goal down, with Dosthill missing two good chances to extend their lead. Against the run of play Coton equalised, with Richard Mattison scoring with a superb 20 yard curling shot on his return from injury. Dosthill applied sustained pressure towards the end of the first half, deservedly going ahead just before the break after some poor defending by Coton.

After a few harsh words at half time, Coton came out more determined and began to dominate possession. Aided by fresh impetus from substitutes Sadler and Kinson, Coton deservedly equalised again on the hour when top scorer Tom Bassett bundled home after a goalmouth scramble. Again, against the run of play Dosthill retook the lead with a good finish from just inside the box. Finding themselves behind, Coton applied pressure in search of a third goal and were unfortunate as Sadler and Pulley both went close for the home side. However Dosthill held on to win the game and progress to the next round.

Coton are away to Shelfield next week, as they seek to gain their first league win of the season.

Shelfield Rangers 3 - 2 Coton Green AFA

Coton travelled to Shelfield seeking their first league win of the season, coming away with another narrow 3-2 defeat despite deserving at least a draw from the game. After a bright start, Coton again conceded the first goal with Shelfield's crisp passing carving open the away side's back four. With the wind in their favour, Coton fought back and were rewarded when Mark Sadler expertly lobbed the goalkeeper from 25 yards. The home side responded and retook the lead, following a good move down the left hand side. On the stroke of halftime, Coton were again level with Richard Mattison coolly slotting home after good work from Wilkins, making his debut on the left wing.

The second half saw a change in the pattern of play, with the home side utilising the wind and playing some direct football. Coton defended admirably against the aerial bombardment and began to dominate possession themselves. However the away team were undone, when Shelfield took the lead with a wind assisted long range effort. Despite this setback, Coton continued to force the pace and Sadler was unlucky when his long range effort went narrowly wide. In the final minute Coggins had a chance to grab a deserved equaliser for the away side, but shot at the keeper when through on goal. In the end Shelfield held on for a scarcely deserved victory, but Coton can take heart from this good, battling performance and build on it in the games ahead.

Coton Green AFA 3 v 2 Crusaders B

Coton Green's AFA side deservedly picked up their first league win of the season, narrowly defeating a battling Crusaders 3-2. Learning from their mistakes of previous weeks, Coton made a fast start to the game, putting in some big early tackles and passing the ball well. This early pressure was rewarded when Coggins flicked the ball over the defender's head for Richard Mattison to coolly slot home his third goal in three games. However some sloppy defending from the home side allowed Crusaders to scramble home an equaliser against the run of play. Despite Coton dominating the first half, the two teams went in level at the break.

Inspired by halftime jaffa cakes, Coton again came out strongly and took the lead when Sadler's pinpoint through ball was finished in style by Chris Brown, after skilfully rounding the keeper. The home side took a seemingly decisive lead mid way through the second half when Mattison beat the keeper at the near post, after a mazy run down the right. However Crusaders fought back and put the home side under sustained pressure, pulling a goal back with a well worked move down the right. Despite coming under heavy pressure in the last ten minutes, Coton defended strongly and came away with a well deserved 3-2 victory.

Coton will aim to build on this good result when they take on Handsworth Grammar Old Boys in the third round of the Senior Cup next weekend.

Coton Green AFA 3 v 7 Handsworth Grammar Old Boys B

Coton Green's AFA side were knocked out of the Senior Cup by second division side Handsworth Grammar after an entertaining 7-3 defeat. Starting well, Coton put their higher ranked opponents under pressure and took the lead when Anthony Freeman coolly converted a penalty after a handball in the area. However as the first half wore on, Handsworth's superior passing game and movement began to create several chances for the away side and they deservedly equalised. A defensive error from Coton captain Best then presented Handsworth with the lead midway through the half. Despite coming under heavy pressure for the majority of the half, Coton pinched an equaliser on the stroke of half time when Wilkes poked home after a goalmouth scramble and went in level at the break.

The second half was dominated by the away side as Coton began to tire, with the visitors adding five second half goals. Indeed Handsworth created numerous chances and the scoreline could have been worse for the home side, but for several outstanding saves from Dave Hewins. Coton did grab a consolation goal late on, when Sadler converted another penalty after Mattison was fouled in the box. Despite the scoreline, Coton can take great heart from a battling display against much higher ranked opposition and look forward to continuing their league campaign next weekend.

Bentley Heath 1 v 3 Coton Green AFA

Coton travelled to struggling Bentley Heath, coming away with a vital 3-1 win after a fiercely competitive game. The away side made a bright start to the game, going close early on with efforts from Freeman and Brown. This early pressure eventually paid off when leading scorer Tom Bassett coolly slotted home after finding space in the penalty area. The lead was then doubled soon after, when Bassett skilfully weaved his way into the box, before rifling home with his left foot.

The second half was a different affair, with Bentley coming back into the game and their direct style of football causing Coton some problems. Indeed they grabbed a goal back shortly after the break when poor marking from the away team allowed a free header from a corner. Bentley began to dominate the possession, without greatly threatening the away side's goal as Coton defended resolutely, aided by good performances from Clarke and Keenan at the back. Then against the run of play Coton finished off the game with ten minutes remaining, as Richard Mattison rounded the keeper to finish a delightful through ball from substitute Hewins.

Coton Green 3 v 4 Cosmopolitans

Coton Green's AFA side were dumped out of the Jeffs Cup, after a poor display led to a 4-3 defeat by their Division 9 opponents. Starting sluggishly, Coton found themselves under early pressure with the away side increasingly growing in confidence as the game progressed. However against the run of play, Coton took the lead when Kinson tapped home from close range after good work from his strike partner Mattison. Cosmopolitans ignored this setback and quickly were back on the attack, creating numerous chances. They eventually grabbed the rewards their pressure deserved, with two quickfire goals before the break as Coton struggled to get into the game at all.

Fortunate to still be in the game at halftime, Coton came out seeking a strong start to the second period. However within two minutes, a lack of communication in the home defence led to Coton captain Best slicing a clearance into his own goal. The game then seemed over after an hour when Cosmopolitans took advantage of more poor defending from the home side to add a fourth. The home side had other ideas and at last began to get their passing game going. Given fresh impetus by substitutes Bassett and Wilkes, the home side created numerous chances and Mark Sadler gave them hope after pouncing on a loose ball in the area. Coton then set up a frantic finale as Sadler headed home, his goals being just reward for an excellent battling performance.

Despite having three efforts cleared off the line and throwing everything at the away side, Cosmopolitans held on for the victory which their first half performance had earned. The home side will have to improve dramatically when they resume their league campaign next weekend.