8.1.05 Ruddington United Reserves 1-2 Cotgrave CW United Reserves (NSL Division One)

Cotgrave Reserves maintained their winning run with a hard fought win over Ruddington Reserves on a Saturday. The game itself was ruined as a spectacle by the strong winds. Having said that there was no shortage of commitment and effort  with tackles flying in from both sides. It was Ruddington who took the lead with a route one goal. A long ball from defence got caught in the wind and deceived the Cotgrave back line, allowing Carl Wilson to run through and round the keeper before slotting home into an empty net. Cotgrave then created a few chances to equalise but a combination of good goalkeeping and bad finishing meant they stayed behind until five minuets before half time when the equaliser finally arrived. Cotgrave were awarded a free kick 25 yards from goal and Carl Stahlberger struck a fierce shot that back off the underside of the bar. Pete Walton was the first to react and headed into the empty net from three yards out. The second half was much like the first with little good football played but plenty of incident. The winning goal was typical of the game with Dave Cyrek scoring a scrappy effort. Having been sent clear Cyrek appeard to have missed his chance by shooting straight at the keeper. However the ball somehow slipped under the keepers body and trickled over the line despite the best efforts of a Ruddington defender. With time running out Ruddington created a couple of chances to equalise but Cotgrave keeper Richmond made one fantastic fingertip save and defender Phil Sallis made a superb last ditch tackle to deny Wilson his second. (Mark Turner Cotgrave CW United)

30.10.04 Cotgrave CW United Reserves 5-3 Notts Police Reserves (NSL Division One)

Cotgrave Welfare Reserves bounced back from their heavy loss to Wollaton Res with a fine victory over high flying Notts Police Res. Management duo Mark Turner and Tony Newby made five changes to the side that were beaton by Wollaton  with first teamer Steve Astill making his first start of the season after Injury. Cotgrave made a confident start and took the lead when captain for the day Dave Cyrek dispossesed the Police full back before cutting in and firing home an unstoppable drive. The second came five minuets later when Turner carried the ball out of defence before playing a great ball over the top for left back Lee Cyrek to take the ball down and finish with a sweet strike. The third goal came from a moment of brilliance from Cotgrave winger Glen Parry. Cotgrave were awarded a free kick mid way in the Police half. Whilst everyone was napping Parry ran up from nowhere to drive the ball over an unsuspecting Keeper from roughly 45 yards. Whilst the Police defenders protested furiously that the referee had not blown his whistle the ref allowed the goal to stand. To their credit Police came out fired up for the second half and scored twice in the opening ten minuets of the half. First Lee Cyrek managed to smack the ball past his own keeper, and then Andy Coles added a second to make it 3-2. Cotgrave then settled back into their attacking rythem and Tom Brindley had a fine run and cross which one of the police defenders could only turn into his own net. Parry added his second and Cotgrave's fifth with a tap in after the keeper spilled a fine shot from Cyrek, and although Prest added a third for the Police Cotgrave hung on for a 5-3 win. Remarkably their were seven bookings in a game which was never any more than competitive. Eight goals, Seven bookings, two own goals, and plenty of goalmouth action made this a very entertaining match for the decent crowd that turned up at the Welfare ground. (Mark Turner Cotgrave CW United)