East Coker Cockerels Rangers vs Sherborne Town U9 – Report

The Rangers took to the field against a very strong Sherborne Town side with the disadvantage of having only 6 players available to play.  Not wanting to call the game off and deciding to play, the Ranger’s management team were confident if a game plan was stuck to the team had enough in them to get a result.  Even with a one man deficit.

The game started with East Coker fully in control with Rocco Sughayer going close with numerous efforts on target with only some fantastic saves from the away goalkeeper preventing the deadlock from being broken. Emily Palmer’s delivery from corner kicks continues to improve as she whipped in 3 fantastic efforts in a short space of time with precise accuracy.  With the 1st quarter over the Rangers could feel hard done by not to be leading the game.

The second quarter began with Sherborne imposing themselves on the game much more.  Pressing the Rangers into a few panicked clearances with Corey Groves in goal saving fantastically well from a one on one situation where he looked second favourite to the ball. Sherborne eventually took the lead through a goalmouth scramble with the away team’s striker making no mistake from 2 yards out. Half time 1-0 to Sherborne.

The third quarter started terribly from The Rangers, with Sherborne getting an early goal to stretch their lead and give the 6 players from East Coker a mountain to climb.  The second goal gave East Coker somewhat of a second wind as Jake Ashton and Dele Ollie Frost pushing on much more to give help to the tireless Rocco Sughayer and Rhys Ashton up front.  Following a spell of pressure Rocco Sughayer skipped passed 2 Sherborne players to slide a fantastic through ball to Rhys Ashton who scored at the second time of asking to give The Rangers a glimmer of hope. With the wind in their sails The Rangers continued to press in search of an equaliser. Shortly after, from the same combination Rocco Sughayer once again slipped in Rhys Ashton who hit a left footed drive into the near top corner to a tremendous cheer from the home support.

The fourth quarter much like the third didn’t start the best.  The Rangers legs now starting to tire with no substitutes available to replace the tired players they had to hold on and dig deep for each other. Sherborne gained a free kick and scored to deflate The Rangers once again. Following this a spell of pressure from Sherborne with fantastic defending from Jake Ashton, Emily Palmer and Ollie Frost standing firm with Corey Groves standing firm in goal to deny any further damage.  With 5 minutes left captain Rocco Sughayer found himself with time and space in midfield to drive towards the Sherborne goal passing 2 defenders on his way as he let fly with a right footed missile into the far top corner to bring the score level. It was at this point Sherborne Town realised East Coker were only playing with 6 men. This goes to show the level of play the East Coker players had produced.  Rhys Ashton and Rocco Sughayer then had to sit deep to protect the score and see the game out. The referee then brought an end to a fantastic game 3-3.

The level of effort and team work produced from the East Coker players should not be underestimated.  A lesser team would have called the game off, or rolled over to the team with 7 players. Corey Groves, Emily Palmer, Jake Ashton, Ollie Frost, Rhys Ashton and Rocco Sughayer can all look back on the game with a tremendous amount of pride as they worked so hard for each other and took on instruction whilst tired to gain a fantastic result when all odds were against them.

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