Defences on top in dull, uneventful, goal-shy match at the Stad!

After the long festive period, the visit of Dorchester United to Stad de Cob signified the first home game of 2006. It was also the 3rd time the sides had met since the start of the season with the Sandringham side coming out on top in both of the previous meetings by a single goal.


A New Year however didn’t mean a change of luck for Cobham as absentees meant yet another change of personnel. The starting line-up was almost unrecognisable from the side that took a late point against basement boys Wareham. 2006 also signalled a change of system with Keith reverting back to 4-4-2 from the 3-5-2 of recent weeks. Stand-in skipper Matty Allen moved to the right back spot as the returning Chapman re-claimed his place alongside the Antique Hallam. Ever impressive Robbie Cotton pushed into left back. 3 of the midfield from the previous week retained their place with Dan Moore on the left, goal scoring, point saving hero Goodbody in the centre with his continental companion Riad. Robbie Cooke’s absence meant Gunnsey got an opportunity to show his skills off down the right flank. The forward line remained unchanged with Captain Caveman Campbell and Mawer forging a formidable partnership. The bench saw a return to the first team set up for Keith Jnr as well as Wayne Smith. Paul Tucker also recalled from the previous week made his first start for the club from the Judy.


From kick off it was evident that Cobham were up for this – to start 2006’s home campaign with 3 points and it showed. Balls being pinged from the right boot of Allen and Chapman and the throw of Cotton over the full backs’ heads for Moore and Gunnsey to chase. It was from one of Allen’s raking passes that Cobham took the lead. Gunnsey gave chase but had his cross cut out, the ball bouncing along fell to Goodbody 25 yards from goal – he then swung a speculative straight-legged left foot at it only to see it fly into the top corner with the keeper stranded. 1-0 after 3 minutes of play – a great start; could they hold it? No, was the answer. A few moments later, a jinking run from their midfielder put him in the 6 yard box without breaking a sweat. He promptly pulled the ball back to the on-rushing striker who gladly stroked past the keeper to level things up. 8 minutes gone – 1-1. This sparked the Merley Park outfit into life. After some fancy footwork from the nipper Mawer he set off toward goal only to be upended upon his approach to the box. Up stepped Goodbody again and put a postage stamp on the ball as he placed it for the free-kick. As when it left his boot, it was only going one place and that was the top corner, so much so it rattled in the stansion before nestling in the back of the net; again the keeper was rooted! 2-1


3-1 was soon to follow after a surging run from Allen,, who’s whipped ball in was headed clear by the defender at the near post, only to fall to Moore on the run who took in past his marker and slotted it into the net past the keeper. Top scorer and young whippersnapper Chris Mawer was soon to get in on the goal scoring action as well. It came from another probing gallop forward from the right back. Gunnsey was screaming for it inside him but the skipper took the sensible option and missed out the diminutive slap-headed veteran and planted the cross straight onto Mawer’s head who it turn, glanced it into the net. 4-1 and the Stad de Cob was going wild! 4-1 was how it stayed for about twenty minutes until Dorchester hit back. The Cobham defence (not for the first time this season) went A.W.O.L and the ball was slipped into the path of their striker who kept his nerve in a one on one situation to nutmeg the keeper 4-2. There were 10 minutes to go to half time and the match was end to end. It was Cobham however who got the next goal to surely put it beyond the reach of United. Again it started with good work from the midfield. The ball was played into the box and ricocheted into the path of Moore who promptly tucked it away with his right foot to make it 5-2. Then disaster struck, Chapman, back to his influential best had to come off with a twisted ankle and was replaced by Wayne Smith. As the seconds ticked away, the players and fans alike were waiting for the half time whistle to go to signal a break in the high-tempo Dorset Premier League action. Everyone was after a deserved cup of tea and also to catch their breath. However the ball was to be in the back of the Cob net once more before the whistle went. A needless free kick was given some 25 yards from goal and the taker planted the ball into the top corner, the keeper got a hand to it but not enough to prevent it from finding the net. 5-3. No sooner had Cob kicked off, the whistle when for the break; what a whirlwind first 45!
The second half continued in much the same vein as the first with an early goal. Early pressure from the Dorchester side seemed to have Cobham on the back foot from the kick off. And even after a few top drawer saves by the stand-in Cob keeper the persistence of United finally paid off with a 4th goal, no less than their play, coupled with the slack Cobham defending warranted. 5-4. This was how it stayed for the majority of the second period. With Dorchester having all the play, all the possession and all the efforts on goal. The ‘keeper was in fine form to keep out several close range efforts and at full stretch to tip over a rasping drive from the edge of the box. On the two occasions that the keeper was beaten, the post came to the rescue once and also, against all laws of physics, one effort managed to bend in the goal, then out again and across the pitch for a throw in!! Dorchester were all over Cobham, with Hallam, Allen and co resisting all that was thrown at them and the ‘keeper pulling off save after save after save. Although he showed some good touches when he was bought on, even Tucker couldn’t prevent attack after attack upon the Cobham goal. Keith Jnr was then bought on for the impressive Riad to add a ‘bit’ of beef to the midfield. Would Cobham hang on?? Could they hang on?? More importantly could Keith Jr last the remaining 15 mins without eating?! All would be revealed.

Cobham were reduced to 10 men after a flurry of yellow cards in a short space of time resulted in 2 yellows and a 7 day ban for Goodbody after frustration got the better of him. The goon with sideburns for Dorchester dispossessed him in the bottom corner and in a poor attempt to regain the ball ended in a two-footed flying lunge at Screech’s ankle. With little choice, the referee produced a second yellow for a tackle that could have easily warranted a straight red. With the 90th minute rapidly approaching, Dorchester were camped in their opponents half desperate to equalise, then it finally happened, all the brave saves and last ditch tackles were officially nullified as a fifth was tucked home from short range. Jubilation for the visitors, despair for the hosts. 5-5 from 5-2 down!! A comeback of magnificent proportions! 3 mins left and they were back from the dead – outstanding, however, there would be one last twist in this tale. . . .

With literally seconds left on the clock, Mawer latched onto a hopeful punt upfield/clearance. With the bald headed ‘Nigel’ in hot pursuit, the youth teamer took the bouncing ball early and drove it at the goal where the keeper parried the ball skywards. The momentum produced from the sheer power of the shot took the ball closer to the goal. By this time the defender had recovered the lost ground and was standing under the projected landing spot of the ball, Mawer was soon to follow; then the wait. The wait for the ball to drop, the wait to see if all the second half Dorchester effort had been in vain, the wait to see the aerial battle of youth vs experience. Both players’ 10 yards from a gaping goal, an eerie hush fell over the Stad, all that could be heard was the whinging from old man Penn about being dropped. Then both players leapt to the air in a battle to head the ball, with the crowd looking on in disbelief as Mawer rose like a salmon to nod the ball into the net. 6-5!! Would you Adam and Eve it! Stad de Cob went wild, joy for everyone Cobham (except Rich who was still moaning) The Dorchester player dropped to their knees in imminent defeat. Sure enough that was it, as soon as the ball was played from the kick off, the referee’s whistle went to confirm that Cobham were the winners! Hard on Dorchester who had deserved something from their second half performance alone but that’s what you get for having 6 fingers and 13 brothers I guess!

Cobham had indeed made an unbeaten start to 2006 and started with a 100% record at home. Relief all round! Matty Allen is also an unbeaten captain! Well done lads.

Team: Mckensie, Allen (C), Chapman (Smith 35), Hallam, Cotton, Gunn, Riad (Keith Jr 78), Goodbody, Moore X-factor please, Mawer, Cavey-Wavey (Tucker 70)