Coundon Court OBs 3-1 Cropredy Devs

Cropredy Devs made the long trip up to north-west Coventry, to finally get this Stockton Charity Cup match played. The game was originally scheduled for November but clashed with a county cup game, and has since been postponed a number of times due to the weather.

Crop’s opponents Coundon Court Old Boys, came into the game in some good form, and sitting second in the Coventry Alliance Division Two. The young devs side knew they would be in for a tough game, but were looking to rebuild some momentum after a hard fought win against Chalgrove last time out.

Team News
Manager Kieran Reading was only able to take a 13 man squad which turned out to be the youngest ever squad to date, with only 3 players over the age of 19. The plans were thrown into tatters, having to deal with late withdrawals of captain and top scorer Damien Robertson, vice captain Corey Phillips (both through illness), and James Keane.

Leo Beales was a late addition to the squad, with it originally planned that he would rest his ankle this week, and there was a debut for 18 year old goalkeeper Luke Slater. Slater had originally joined in October, but has since been training with Leamington, having featured in their match day squad on a number of occasions.

Luke Butterworth slotted in to fill into defence, and Jamie Oxley made his first positional start in centre midfielder since the opening game of the season. 17 year old Matt Steele took the armband for the first time in the absence of Robertson & Phillips.

First half

Coundon had the best of the early chances, looking dangerous from set pieces. Their first chance came as a cross come shot forced Slater into a retreating palm over the cross bar, then from the resulting corner a half volley from the edge of the box cannoned back off the bar and back into play.

Crop gradually came into the game, looking to use their pace in forward areas against their vastly more experienced opponents, and Kyran Beales began to threaten with some direct dribbling. He managed to dribble past 3 players how tried to chop him down in vein, before sliding in Callum Moon down the left channel, but he fired his effort high and wide of the near post.
Tackles began flying in, but the referee seemed to had forgotten his cards in the first half, where 3 or 4 could well have gone in the book.

Cropredy should have gone into the break ahead, but squandered two great chances late in the half. First, Ollie Beesley showed some good composure out wide, getting his up and delivering a superb cross to the back post, that was met by Moon but he couldn’t keep his header down. Secondly, a Butterworth long ball was excellently controlled by Leo Beales in the area, but somehow the defender managed to just stop him make enough contact with the shot.

Into the break at 0-0, probably fair on the balance of the half, but Crop were frustrated having had some great chances

Half Time – Coundon Court OBs 0-0 Cropredy Devs

Coundon came out firing in the second period and took the lead on 53 minutes. A long throw wasn’t dealt with by the away defence, and bounced through the attacker who was able to fire it home from close range under Slater. The home side capitalized and doubled their lead just 5 minutes later. Leo Beales gave away the ball in midfield, and it was recycled wide right. The cross looked harmless enough, but the Coundon man got in between Steele and Slater to capitalise on a mix up and head into the net. Disappointing for Cropredy who had battled so well in the first half but conceded two sloppy goals.

Cropredy continued to push and get back into the game. Subs were made with Timms and Varnham-Wrigley introduced down the left. It took a while, but on 86 minutes they finally had a deserved goal. Kyran Beales was finally reworded for a hard working performance, as he latched onto an Oxley through ball and fired past the ‘keeper.

Crop then threw away their lifeline, as within 2 minutes the two goal advantage was restored. Coundon were allowed out of the corner two easily and a ball into the box was saved by Slater, but was then easily recycled and played to a man on the edge of the area. He was given way to much time to get his head up and fire into the corner under the goalkeeper.

The last big chance fell to Kyran Beales, and he was slipped in down the left, but the goalkeeper pulled off a magnificent save to tip his effort round the post, which had also taken a deflection.

The final whistle sounded, and Coundon advanced to the next round.

Full Time – Coundon Court OBs 3-1 Cropredy Devs

An encouraging performance from the you side, but nothing to show from their efforts, and upon reflection will rue their missed chances in the first half.

Back to focusing on the league now, and top of the table rivals Bicester Town Colts await next week, with Crop making the drive down the M40 to Bicester.

There was more bad news for the side following the game, with talented young stars Kyran Beales and Matt Steele announcing they would be leaving the club this coming week to pursue an opportunity at a Step 6 club. Although their departures will hit the Devs squad hard, we do wish them all the best and it shows the progression that they as individuals, the team and the club has made in recent seasons.

Beales joined as a 16 year old in 2020 and has gone on to score 53 goals in his time, and was a key part of last seasons double winning side, whilst Steele joined at the start of this season, and has been a key part of the defence that has helped us maintain an unlikely title challenge this year.
Good luck to them both.

Man of the match – Kyran Beales
In what may turn out to be his final game in a Cropredy shirt, and although it ended in defeat, it was fitting that Kyran ended with a goal, and a man of the match display. A tireless effort leading the line for us, despite getting kicked to pieces, he was a threat all afternoon.
Charlie MacDonald also put in another superb performance from left back, with Butterworth filling in admirable in defence, and recent signing Ollie Beesley continuing to impress again.