Non-League and Academy football writer

I was in attendance at Coles Park on Monday night, for this Spartan South Midlands Premier Division Cup semi-final tie between Cockfosters FC and Aylesbury Vale Dynamos. This cup game was played at a neutral venue, in Haringey Borough’s Coles Park ground. Cockfosters are currently in seventh place in the Spartan South Midlands Football League Premier Division table, with Aylesbury Vale Dynamos currently in 14th place in the league. Cockfosters would deservedly win this important cup-tie 4-1, and progress to the final of this competition, where they’ll face league leaders Real Bedford. This game was started at a good intensity in north London, and the home side in particular were pressing really well during the opening stages of the game. After Cockfosters forward Ethan Rookard had managed to flick on a header from a long forward ball to Cory Ugbomah on the edge of the Aylesbury Vale Dynamos penalty area, he would hit a good overhead effort (the Aylesbury Vale Dynamos goalkeeper had rushed out of his goal to meet the ball) just wide of the goal. It had been a competitive start to the game. However, there were not many goalscoring chances during the opening stages of the game.

After Cockfosters captain Matt Thomson had delivered a cross into the away team’s penalty area from the right flank, the ball was met by Ethan Rookard at the back post, but his headed effort on goal was well cleared off the goal-line by an Aylesbury Vale Dynamos defender. Following a free-kick for the home side, which had been awarded on the edge of the Aylesbury Vale Dynamos penalty area, Reece Barrett would elect to take it. His good curling effort on goal was well saved by goalkeeper Charlie Jones, with the ball then coming to Cory Ugbomah, whose effort (it was a difficult chance) on the follow-up just missed the goal. Cockfosters were playing some good football during the first half, and they were looking the more likely team to score the opening goal of the game. That opening goal of the game would arrive for the home side in the 30th minute of the game. It came from a penalty kick, which had been awarded by the referee after Chris Griffin had been fouled inside the Aylesbury Vale Dynamos penalty area. Matt Thomson would step up to confidently find the left side of the goal, despite Charlie Jones diving the right way, 1-0.

Aylesbury Vale Dynamos tried to respond before half-time, and after Martin Lancaster’s powerfully delivered ball into the home team’s penalty area, came off Jake Baldwin, before being gathered by the goalkeeper (Tiernan Parker), the away side managed to create another chance. This time Dave Brown had a volleyed effort from the edge of the Cockfosters penalty area, importantly deflected behind for a corner kick. Just before half-time (in first half additional time) Cockfosters managed to double their lead in the game. Kenny Nobrega’s powerful effort on goal from around 20 yards out, was parried by goalkeeper Charlie Jones, with the ball then coming to Reece Barrett, inside the penalty area, and his well taken low effort found the bottom right-hand corner of the goal, 2-0. In the early stages of the second half, Cockfosters looked as if they were going to try and find that all important third goal of the game. And not long after Cory Ugbomah had hit an effort wide of the Aylesbury Vale Dynamos goal on the bounce from the edge of their penalty area, Gavin Kelsey’s side got their third goal of the game.

Cockfosters’ third goal of the game had arrived after the away side had lost possession of the ball in their half of the pitch, after some good work from Reece Barrett, to win the ball. Barrett then passed the ball to Ethan Rookard on the edge of the Aylesbury Vale Dynamos penalty area, and Rookard would clinically finish into the bottom left-hand corner of the goal, 3-0. Following that goal Cockfosters managed to create another good chance, as Cory Ugbomah’s low cross from the right flank, into the visitors’ penalty area was cleverly flicked towards goal at the near post by Antonio Michael, whose effort was saved by Charlie Jones. Tiernan Parker made a good and important save after the impressive Fabian Garcia had taken the ball into the home team’s box, before having his resulting effort on goal well closed down and saved by the goalkeeper. Aylesbury Vale Dynamos would get a goal back through Terry Griffiths on 70 minutes. Tom Cove’s good free-kick delivery into the penalty area from the left flank, was met by Griffiths, whose powerful headed effort had too much pace on it for Tiernan Parker to be able to keep it out of the goal, 3-1.

Ethan Rookard would have a low effort from the edge of the Aylesbury Vale Dynamos penalty area, saved by their goalkeeper, and then shortly after Tiernan Parker had comfortably saved a headed effort on his goal, substitute Harrison Rookard had hit a low effort from distance wide of the Aylesbury Vale Dynamos goal, after some good initial work to control the ball. Cockfosters would make sure of their place in the final of the competition soon after, as Jay Lovell rounded off a fine individual performance, by heading a corner kick delivery into the bottom right-hand corner of the Aylesbury Vale Dynamos goal, 4-1. There were some more goalscoring chances during the remainder of the game. Terry Griffiths had a header  on goal saved by Tiernan Parker, following a free-kick, and then shortly after that chance Josh Grantham hit an effort over the Aylesbury Vale Dynamos goal from distance. And in the final moments of the game Joe Entwistle put an effort over Charlie Jones’ goal from inside his penalty area. This was an impressive and professional performance from Gavin Kelsey’s side against Aylesbury Vale Dynamos, and I thought that they managed the game really well.

My player of the match from this important cup game was Jay Lovell, who I thought capped off a really solid defensive performance with a good headed goal for the home side, during the latter stages of the game. However, I thought that this was a good team performance from Cockfosters, with Cory Ugbomah, Ethan Rookard, Adam Reid and Matt Thomson just some of the players who I thought did very well for the home side. For Aylesbury Vale Dynamos, I thought that the skilful Fabian Garcia was their best player against Cockfosters. I am hoping to cover the final of this competition, whenever it is played before the end of the season.