Match Report. Bostik League North, Division 1.                                                                                                                       Soham Town Rangers v Coggeshall Town. Ist September 2018.

Coggeshall Town travelled to Soham for this Bostik League Division 1 North fixture. As the players lined up the pitch looked in excellent condition and with the temperature at 25 degrees this would be sure to test the player’s stamina.

Straight from the kick-off Soham went on the attack but with the Coggeshall back four settling quickly Soham were restricted mainly to long balls into the penalty area, which Keeper Bransgrove and Centre Halves Pollard and Peter dealt with confidently.

On 10 minutes, Aaron Condon worked his way into the Soham Penalty area where, after beating his man he fired in a low shot. The Soham keeper had to make a smart save diving to his right. Coggeshall were now playing some flowing football through their mid-field and with full backs Tyler Brampton and Kevin Coyle pushing forward at every opportunity chances were beginning to come.

On 20 minutes, after good work by Connor Hubble the Soham keeper was quickly off his line to clear the ball as Ross Wall was about to shoot.

On 30 minutes, Town took the lead. Having switched to the Coggeshall left wing, Aaron Condon beat his man and rounded the advancing keeper to score inside the far post from an acute angle. Aaron then ran to celebrate his first League goal for the club with Coggeshall supporters Martyn, Geoff and Emma, before the players joined him. Three minutes later Aaron received the ball from Ross Wall with his back to goal, he made a smart turn to fire in his third shot in 20 minutes, which the Soham keeper managed to touch over the bar for a Coggeshall corner. In a short spell Soham played another three balls into the Coggeshall area, but Dexter Peter, Josh Pollard and Tevan Allen comfortably cleared the danger.

On 35mins, Ross Wall headed just wide from a Nnamdi Nwachuku cross. As the clock ticked towards half-time Soham won a corner, which was driven into the six-yard box, Bransgrove again won the ball cleanly as the Soham number 9 challenged him.  

Right on 45 minutes Coggeshall won a free-kick on the edge of the Soham box for a foul on Ross Wall. Conor Hubble stepped up and drove the ball over the wall forcing the Soham keeper to make another great save diving to his right.

Half Time: Soham Town Rangers 0 Coggeshall Town 1.

The second half started with both sides battling for mid-field supremacy. On 54 minutes, Tom Monk replaced Aaron Condon and on 60 minutes with Coggeshall controlling the mid-field, they added a second goal. From a Conor Hubble corner, Josh Pollard knocked the ball down to Nnamdi Nwachuku who managed to get a shot in despite being under pressure from the Soham number 4. Diving to his right the Soham keeper managed to only parry the shot, which fell to Ross Wall who reacted quickly to add his second poacher’s goal in consecutive matches. Ross had given a great centre forward display throughout the game and was replaced by Kieran Bishop on 67 minutes.

On 76 minutes, another  fine run from Nnamdi Nwachuku took him past three Soham defenders and he fired the ball home from the edge of the box to make it 3 – 0 to the Town. Town made their third substitution on 77 minutes with Louis Soraf replacing Conor Hubble. Coggeshall continued to create openings and on 85 minutes Kevin Coyle was very unlucky  not to make it 4 – 0 after a great run into the Soham box, his shot rebound back out off the outside of the far post. The Final Action of the game saw James Bransgrove make a very good save at his near post to keep the clean sheet intact.

Full Time: Soham Town Rangers 0 Coggeshall Town 1.