GNP SPORTS 4-1 COTON GREEN: MATCH REPORT...

GNP March On, Despite Patient Coton’s Contribution

GNP Sports 4-1 Coton Green

On a windy day at Sphinx Drive, it was like being near the sea, as gulls flew over the pitch upon which there was both a Beach and a Ball, Wil and Ryan, who were both playing for the hosts. Coton Green were clearly undermanned, for with ten minutes to go before the kick-off was due, they were warming up with just eleven players. However, Coton, urged on by skipper Jamie Abbott, passed the ball around calmly for much of the time, although they had conceded an early goal to Rob Prinzel, the GNP midfielder whose bearded and powerful midfield presence reminded me of a Scottish Pict attacking Hadrian’s Wall, missing only a clansman’s kilt. His father, a landowning Laird, watched on from the shelter of his Blackhouse… 

LET US BEGIN...

Tommy Rawlings prodded goal two, assisted by the rather useful left-side GNP pairing, Aaron Dickens and Scotty Hammond and the prolific Sports forward rammed in a trademark free-kick before the interval to leave Coton well behind. The visitors only conceded one more goal after the interval however, to recent GNP signing Lewis Commins but twice the goal-frame came to their aid and goalkeeper Luke Mills-Fleming was in inspired form during the second period, making crucial saves from Rawlings, Prinzel, Hammond and the enigmatic GNP bandit Charlie Cook. A clue to Coton’s short-handed unit was when central striker Romano Graham clearly hurt his hamstring but carried on regardless, even winning an amusing free-kick during the second-half, from which he launched himself like a parachutist from a World War Two aircraft to head his team’s consolation goal.

FOUR MARK TWO...

Footballers often have odd, unrewarding days and this particular day will not live long in GNP striker Nathan Stoute’s memory, unless his colleagues won’t let him forget it… He miscued a header from a decent position, got in the way of a Prinzel volley and thus his back was suitably scorched like a flame-thrower had set about him but then, near the start of period two, he fooled us all… A mixture of an uneven goalmouth, a strange bobble and the ball striking both of his boots, thus leaving Stoute unable to control it, resulted in his indirect effort bouncing against the left upright. He laughed himself… He had to. 

NOT QUITE GOT THIS SCOTTISH DANCING RIGHT...

Before the break however, Coton managed, mainly through the sensible play of striker Michael Bloore, to threaten three times only, all from set-pieces. A downward header, I believe by defender Harry Rowbotham (those dull yellow numbers on green shirts were decidedly unhelpful…) forced home goalie James Wardle to fall and fumble the ball behind for a corner. A fine strike from 16 yards by Bloore was blocked by a defending GNP player, possibly either Stoute or Rawlings and finally, when slight hesitation at his near post by Wardle let in the experienced Coton midfielder Paul Bonar, home defender Luke Swinnerton smuggled the ball behind for another corner. Certainly Coton were in no hurry, as Abbott, Nathan Boyce, Matt Clarke and Robotham kept possession whenever possible but in truth, they struggled to manage the right-flank surges of GNP’s Commins and Beach, also the smart interplay between the impressive Hammond and Dickens on the opposite wing. 

1-0: PRINZEL...

The early goal by Prinzel was what GNP needed to settle any concerns they had harboured about profligacy. Work on the right by Beach, a cross, a deflection from Abbott’s head and a far post volley by the unmarked Prinzel which fizzed past the helpless Mills-Fleming, offered Sports just the start they must have craved. A later and better struck Prinzel volley from 10 yards whacked Stoute in the back, as already mentioned. Otherwise, Commins rushed forth, only to be denied by the advancing Mills-Fleming and he was also baulked at the left post, although a corner was claimed, but not awarded. Hammond made a neat run and fired a shot from 27 yards which Mills-Fleming fell left for and pushed away but Rawlings was the lethal one, having three shots and netting twice.

First he benefited when impressive interplay on the left saw Wardle roll the ball to Dickens, who made ground then exchanged passes with Hammond, whose touch was clever. Dickens’ centre was shoved goalwards by Rawlings from 10 yards but Stoute was in the way to make it awkward for defenders and this unsighted Mills-Fleming and the ball passed between the unfortunate gloveman’s boots and into the net.

2-0: RAWLINGS...

A 20 yard free-kick from inside-right by Rawlings rose fast but as Mills-Fleming flung himself at it in vain, the ball dropped like a flash beneath the crossbar for a spectacular third goal.

3-0: RAWLINGS AGAIN...

Coton’s Bonar had been prominent, supported by the busy Matt Murphy, whilst Ash Francis showed flashes of skill but with Graham limited in movement, too much had been asked of the willing Bloore in attack. James Bryson, the home skipper had rarely been troubled in defence, which allowed surging runs to be made by Dickens and Beach. Corey Brooks and Prinzel (lacking only his kilt) had proved to be solid in midfield and the hosts had looked potent on a number of occasions. This continued after the break but subsequently Mills-Fleming would ensure that the scoreline remained acceptable for his club under trying circumstances. 

2ND HALF UNDERWAY...

The foraging Commins threatened after the interval and the bacon sandwiches but he was challenged by Robotham and the ball squirmed left towards the far post where Stoute must have been certain he would score. Somehow though, the ball nudged itself onto the inside of his left boot, possibly as a result of the terrain and as his right boot moved forward, the ball bounced inadvertently from it too and then onto the base of the upright. Mills-Fleming then did really well to fling himself both at the GNP man and the loose ball, managing to knock it against Stoute into the air and the Coton defence finally rallied to clear… Amazing… 

BEACH DOWN...

Rawlings hit two free-kicks from distance, the first being turned away to his right on the bounce by Mills-Fleming, the second being really well saved by the Coton man, leaping left to beat the ball aside. A 38 yard volleyed attempt by Rawlings wasn’t too far off target either but it was Hammond who really was unfortunate with his finishing during the second-half. Mills-Fleming saved a low shot from the lively forward, then the GNP man’s left-wing corner appeared to flick the top of the cross-beam, before Hammond produced an excellent 25 yarder which smacked against the face of the crossbar. A late nudge of Cook’s corner wide of the near post was Hammond’s final goal attempt but in truth Hammond’s defence work was also noticeable and laudable on the day.

RAWLINGS CLATTERED...

Mills-Fleming blocked a low Prinzel effort in a crowded penalty-box, following smart work by Cook and a partial turn by Rawlings but then the ‘keeper tipped a dangerous Cook centre away from the lurking head of Bryson and finally dived low and left to nudge Cook’s shot past his left upright for a flag-kick. Cook was not averse to taking set-pieces with either boot, making me wonder how many others would be comfortable doing the same… And then there was Commins, who nearly fashioned one chance but was flagged offside, yet it was he who netted the fourth goal. The ball was moved by Dickens to Cook on the left-wing and his measured cross saw Rowbotham hesitate but then deflect Hammond’s attempted shot. The ball thus rolled back perfectly for Commins to lash a rising 11 yard drive past the helpless Mills-Fleming.

4-0: COMMINS...

Coton had barely threatened at all since the interval, bar a wildly inaccurate Bonar effort and a very late Bloore shot from an angle which was saved by the legs of Wardle. The goal for the Greens was rather odd in its creation, for the limping Graham appeared to avoid a GNP challenge by swallow-diving out of the way. The referee awarded a free-kick on the left-flank however and then, possibly because he couldn’t kick the ball, Graham threw himself forth and connected with a good header which flew past Wardle, as marker Beach’s boot failed to get to Abbott’s free-kick first.

4-1: GRAHAM (LEFT)...

That was that, really. A deserved win for GNP but credit to Coton for their game-plan and the fact that the damage really was limited during the second period. Little could be said about the officials unusually, which probably means that both teams competed well but didn’t get annoyed or argumentative and also that perhaps the officials did rather well… Rare.

ALL OVER...

Cook’s cameo on the left-flank was stimulating for GNP, Rawlings’ all-round forward play was decent, Commins buzzed and Hammond was always a threat. Beach and Dickens (yes, a left-footed player for GNP…) were positive and Clansman Prinzel alongside Brooks, wrapped up midfield despite the efforts of Murphy, Francis and particularly Bonar for the guests, for whom left-sider Marion Iotu never stopped contributing.

On the teamsheets there was a King, an Abbott and a Cook, which sounds like an arty-farty underground movie title but overall, well done to Mills-Fleming for providing some gymnastics and to Rawlings for generally shooting with some aplomb… 

TEAMS:

GNP SPORTS:

JAMES WARDLE, WIL BEACH, AARON DICKENS, COREY BROOKS, JAMES BRYSON (CAPT), LUKE SWINNERTON, LEWIS COMMINS, ROB PRINZEL, TOM RAWLINGS, NATHAN STOUTE, SCOTT HAMMOND.

SUBS:

RYAN BALL, BRENNAN KING, CHARLIE COOK, REHMARNE GORDON.

COTON GREEN:

LUKE MILLS-FLEMING, MATT CLARKE, MARION IOTU, JAMIE ABBOTT (CAPT), HARRY ROBOTHAM, NATHAN BOYCE, MATT MURPHY, PAUL BONAR, ROMANO GRAHAM, MICHAEL BLOORE, ASH FRANCIS.

SUBS:

LEIGHTON McMENEMY, ROBBIE GRAYSON, RICHAR DEAVILL.