It very rarely happens, maybe only once a season, but today was the day when the Fat Cat had to do a bit of work. Mick Carr and Andy Rannard were absent from the starting line up today, along with Alan Hulthen who is still a week or two away from fitness and Paul Morgan who is on business (yer right!!) in the Antipodes. It fell to Andy Blackburn to fill the void at the back alongside Mike Smith and Neil Shelley. Alsop have provided decent opposition for Coeur over the last 3 or 4 years, yet Coeur have won all of the encounters, despite the tight nature of a few of the games. Coeur knew today that they would have to work hard if they were to produce another victory against a side that always battles hard and never gives in.
Coeur got off to the perfect start to the game, and those fans who had opted to visit the butty van on the way across would have missed the lightning fast start to the game. Rob Phil won the ball and laid it off to Gav Scott, who fed a good ball into the feet of Craig Burns. Craig had no hesitation in sliding the ball in front of Mick Kennedy, who was once again first to the ball to divert it into the net with about 15 seconds on the clock. Alsop were stunned and Coeur were ecstatic. Coeur were dominant in the opening 15 minutes and piled on the pressure. It was soon 2 - 0 when a corner fell to Mally Harper on the back stick about 8 yards out. The ball popped up but Mally acrobatically readjusted himself to slam the ball home. Alsop were stunned into a action and began to get into the game a bit. The long throw-in ploy produced a couple of chances, the first seeing Si Furlong stick a right hand out to foil the forward and the second bearing fruit as Si Furlong and Neil Shelley despite their best efforts couldn't quite keep out a header. Alsop continued to use the long throw-ins, but Si Furlong took it upon himself to come and punch them away, taking out all in his path. Coeur were still creating chances and deservedly restored their 2 goal advantage through Degsy. Degsy took a short corner into the feet of Mick Kennedy who returned the ball, Degsy then nutmegged a defender, beat another and the fired home from the acutest of angles. Alsop had another chance late on in the half but it was well saved down by the foot of the post.
Half Time 3 - 1
Coeur knew that Alsop would come out firing and indeed they did, the ball was cut back to a forward 10 yards from goal but his well struck shot was to near the keeper who beat it away. Coeur struggled a little as the wind picked up in the second half but still had a few chances. Rob Hatton back in the team after missing the last match went on a powerful run winning a couple of bone crunching tackles, before seeing his fierce goalbound shot blocked at the last minute. Alsop had a fair bit of possesion and were using the wind to their advantage. They were often shooting from distance but never produced a piece of magic to beat the Fat Cat. Alsop had only one further chance with the forward clean through he tried to lob Si Furlong only for him to get a hand to it and then pick up the loose ball from in front of the covering Andy Blackburn. Coeur were getting through a lot of work, with Mally Harper in his usual frantic form, hassleing the opposition anytime they got the ball. It was through this pressure that Gav Scott was able to release Craig Burns who scampered away down the left and produced a great cross that just eluded Mick Kennedy at the back post. As the game was drawing to a close Tom Shipley escaped down the left and delivered another fine cross, this one also avoiding the airbourne feet of Mick Kennedy by inches.
Another good win for Coeur against a tough and committed Alsop side who refused to lie down. That is now 6 straight victories against Alsop for Coeur despite several tough games.
Full Time 3 - 1 |
