At last another win!!!

Ipods for Christmas?

Twas a cold winters day in November, when the fallen giants of the DPL travelled the width of the county for the return fixture against Bridport Reserves. Again it was all change in the travelling squad with Robbie Cooke and Tim ‘Serbian Assassin’ Vukcevic absent, Jack Smith injured from the previous week and the ‘icon’ of the team Paul Tucker at the Milan fashion week (say no more). This meant a recall for the young Perry Fry and a first team debut for Fry Snr Mark – apparently?! As well as a return to full fitness for our recent signing from Poole Borough Dan ‘I’ve got to get home in time for X-Factor’ Moore.
With Jimmy/Mark sitting out the warm up as he felt he didn’t have enough energy to do that as well as a possible few minutes of the match, the team prepared well, looking focused and enthusiastic despite the bitter cold and chilling wind. ‘These are a beat-able side’ was the rallying cry from the gaffer before hand as the teams took to the pitch.
It started tight with both sides struggling on league form no-one wanted to give much away which resulted in few opportunities for either side. The best chance of the half fell to Cobham, after neat work from Merrell and Gunn in the midfield Fry Jnr was fed down the right. Some fancy footwork later resulted in a pinpoint cross to the back post where Sweetlove was lurking, as he jumped to head into an empty net; the only thing that prevented a certain lead for the Stad de Cob outfit was a last ditch tackle from Dan Moore. Moore jumped with him and just did enough to put Robbe D off, Sweetlove denied by his left wing-back! That was about it as far as real chances went in an almost forgettable 1st half.
The second half continued in much the same vein for about 15 minutes. Then Wayne was first called into action, a low cross was whipped into the box which eluded everyone except the striker at the far post. As he looked to stroke the ball into an empty net, Robbins flew across his goal mouth spreading himself like hookers legs at a stag party and tipped it round for a corner. By now Cobham had had enough and went to strike. Passes were exchanged in the midfield and then came the through ball to Mawer, the pass split the defence like a hot knife through butter and he was onto it like a flash took a touch then buried it wide of the despairing dive. Cobham nearly had second moments later when a header from Mawer was acrobatically tipped onto the outside of the post. There was quarter of an hour to go and Cobham were in the ascendancy. It was only a matter of time until they doubled their lead. Again the move started with some slick passing, Chapman into Gunn, who held the ball up, turned and slid it into Mawer. With back to goal, 30 yards out, he looked to lay it off but then dropped his shoulder, turned his marker and headed toward goal. Past two more defenders he went, as he hit the edge of the box he unleashed a low right-footed drive that the keeper looked to have well covered except for one factor – he was rubbish! The ball slipped under him and into the empty net. 2 – 0 breathing space at last. With only a few minutes to go and the rear guard looking as solid as it has all year, the final humiliation for Bridport was the introduction of Mark/Jimmy Fry with 10 minutes to go. Despite this set back Cobham held strong to record their 3rd victory of the season.

2-0 to the mighty Cob!

Cobham end of season do - next week!!

After the disappointing trip to Sherborne last week, away at Dorchester in the DPL cup was the last chance of silverware for the mighty Cob and also an opportunity to keep our season going beyond Christmas!
Things started well this time with both the manager and the kit turning up at Sandringham at the pre-planned time as opposed to 20 minutes before kick off as previously experienced; this however was the only positive for the time being with injury and suspension ravaging the Cob side again. Penn (suspended), Johnston (knee) Goodbody (ankle) and Hallam (old age) unavailable meant a re-call for both Tucker and Williams Jnr after their stint in the reserves and a debut for yet another Robbie at the heart of defence.
As for the match itself, Dorchester came out of the blocks flying and within the first 5 minutes had taken the lead after Cobham failed to clear their lines, the Dorch striker finished neatly from the edge of the area after a neat turn of the returning Tucker. United were unlucky not to double their advantage a few minutes later after Robbins came for and missed a corner, a goal bound header was acrobatically tipped around the post by Jack ‘Gordon Banks’ Smith, appeals for a penalty were few and instantly dismissed. That proved to be the turning point of the first half and kicked the Merley Park outfit into action. The next 20 minutes were dominated by Cobham, with Merrell pulling the strings in the midfield and the tireless running of Smith on the left and Cooke on the right, coupled with the big ugly centre forward pairing of Robbie to the D Sweetlove and Chris ‘Radio 1 breakfast show’ Mawer Dorchester were struggling to get out of their half. It was from one of Smith’s darting runs that proved to be Cobham’s breakthrough.
After intricate play on the left, Smith ran into the box only to be on the receiving of a playful love tap from his marker, although he stayed on his feet, the referee deemed it to be worthy of a foul. Penalty. Merrell confidently strolled up to the ball and passed to the keeper’s right.1-1. This seemed to spur Cobham on even further and should probably taken a lead into the break with the Dorchester keeper acrobatically keeping out efforts from Gunn and a pile driver or two from Mawer. Dorchester were glad when the half time whistle went, 1-1.
Keith could probably put the half time talk on a looped tape after recent performances – ‘Playing well after a slow and sloppy start but we need to take our chances’ This was the consensus in the changing room and it was also noted that Robbie Sweetlove likes it deep; hardly appropriate dressing room talk!
The break bought about 1 change in the line up, Jacko had his marker in his pocket so much, the extra weight pulled on his groin and caused him discomfort and was replaced by Vukcevic. The second half started off much the same way the first had finished, Cobham on top but not really testing the Dorchester rear-guard. Then disaster struck! A mis-directed clearing header fell at the feet of a midfielder 30 yards from goal who promptly slid a ball into the channel, then with the penalty box filling with attackers, the on rushing winger whipped in cross which Tucker blocked with his hand, unlike the more agile stop from Smith in the first half, the referee spotted this infringement and gave a free kick on the left hand side of the box, well, he spotted the hand ball at least, had he seen where it took place he would have given a penalty, but it was all made irrelevant after the drilled cross was glanced into Robbins’s goal. 2-1.
This set back never dampened the Cob spirit and should have had a second penalty shortly after. 2-1 up, the United defence started to play with the ball a bit more and on one such occasion, a back pass to the keeper was badly under hit. Gunsey; ever alert and aging gracefully, ran onto this and with his first touch took it past the on rushing keeper only to be body checked in a move that would look more at home on an American football pitch. Penalty! The keeper looking at the ref wishing for just a yellow instead of the inevitable red card, yet this was not to be. With Gunsey still in orbit, spiralling like an Olympic high diver, the referee startlingly waved play on.
The rest of the match followed suit; Cobham on top but not able to convert, even the introduction of Asbo and Keith Jnr late in the half was in vein as Cobham were, not for the first time this season, unable to turn possession into quality chances and subsequently, goals. The best chance fell to Tucker late on but even in a 1 on 1 he was unable to capitalise. It appears that he can only score in a 1 on 1 when we are in Jersey.

Full time 2-1

- Still, at least now Cob can concentrate on the league.

Another game another defeat

Keith decided to make further changes this week to try and invigorate the team into a solid performance against one of the leagues front running teams, Sherborne Town.

Bringing in Shaun ‘Asbo’, Tim ‘Vucs’ and Robbie ‘D’ Sweatlove’. However, the team were soon to be struck down with another 3 injuries. As the team began, its now legendary warm up, the first injury hit……. With Jack straining a groin, as he warmed up Wayne’r and then Wayne also pulling his own groin……. Infact the team must have pulled more groins than on a Saturday night out in Jersey!



So with the team down to 2 subs and an injured goalkeeper, things did not look at all rosey. Well it was about to get a whole lot worse as after 2 mins, the always impressive Pete Goodbody limped off with a damaged ankle and the ‘Senatogen’ wore off on the OAP Hallam, as his back finally gave up. Coupled with an early booking for Merrell, from an over eager referee, this left the team on the back foot



However the team battled through the early onslaught and blinding sun to get a foothold on the game. Whilst Sherborne played the more possession game, Cobham relied on the counter-attack. Sherborne then struck with their first goal midway through the first half, with an unchallenged header following some neat build up play. This seemed to spur Cobham into action and they were unlucky not to equalise through the lively Chris ‘Moyles’ Mawer, whose shot was well saved by the Town keeper. In fact half time came with the result still evenly balanced.





After a rallying cry from Keith at half time, instructing the team to play in behind the Sherborne defence, Cobham were denied a penalty appeal for blatant handball as the ball was squared in from the right wing. The team then that they would try a new tack and attempted to play the ball out on the floor, as a result of this Sherborne again managed to work themselves a another opportunity with the lively Lomax steering the ball into the net. The team continued to battle but the result was already decided. The scoreline went onto flatter Sherborne slightly with two further late goals in the last 10 minutes.



While this leaves the disappointing slump in form continuing, it was encouraging to see the team compete evenly with the title contenders for an hour, it was also good to see the legendary Chapman back in league action following his recent suspension and solid performances from a number of the team.