Sports visit Borough

After the hustle and bustle of the transfer window in January, the managerial revolving door at Merley Park Road turned again with Keith Williams being fired. By many, he was likened to the Americans during WWII – no, not arriving late (Sandringham Park) and saving the day but overqualified, overweight and over here! But his Chapter in the Cob hot seat was brought to an end and Graeme (G) Trevett took the step up from Division 1 into the Combination to take charge – much to the despair of the disgruntled Corfe Mullen squad and board.
After good performances if not results in his first few matches at the helm Poole Borough away. The trip to Beirut was an important one. With all the recent transfers between the two clubs, relationships weren’t good. Both teams lined up with players who have had a stint at the opposition, with Simon ‘Sid’ Edwards lining up in the centre of midfield for Borough and Cobham starting with Stuart Merrell, Dan Moore and veteran Poole Borough record appearance holder Alex Gunn.
The weather resulted in very few games going ahead in the Combination so there was quite a crowd at Turlin Moor, a crowd which included, Craig ‘ Daisy’ Davidson, Richard ‘Pick me for the 1st team please boss’ Penn from the Cobham ranks. There was also a surprise appearance from the salmon jumper, being carried about by the ex-president Mr Brian Meddler himself.
As for the game itself, it started, as all local derbies do, very cagily. Borough, as ever passing the ball from ageing relic to ageing relic along their back four, and into the midfield but with only Dave Perry as an outlet upfront the Cobham defence coped with ease. This did however mean that there were men over in the middle, which meant that Mezza, Scott, Pete and the two wingbacks were being run ragged. This was shortly rectified and eased the early Borough pressure for a while.
After the first 15 mins, Cobham started to come back into it. The positive points were coming from Scott Hole and Gunnsey on his return to his stamping ground. Still no goal scoring opportunities though despite a delightful nutmeg by Gunnsey on their German import. Even with new signing Dan Paine running up front, with Chris Mawer not looking his usual self, opportunities to test the Borough ‘keeper were scarce. Unfortunately, it was from a rare Cobham venture into the home sides’ box that the Turlin Moor outfit went ahead. The move broke down which left a lot of the Cob players upfield and their defence exposed. A long run from Perry saw the ball switched wide to Sid and after getting into the corner, pulled the ball back to the edge of the box and a waiting Andy Barham who gracefully drilled the ball into the roof of the net. 1-0 This is how the score line stayed until the referee blew up for halftime. Despite all the effort and hard work from Cobham, they went in one down and could rightfully feel aggrieved at being so.
The second half was only 5 seconds old when Goodbody flew in on Barham and stood on his toe, needless to say the BTC from Poole whinged like spoilt 5 year old at xmas and received some treatment. The tackle must’ve really hurt, as Barham was ineffective for the rest of the match – the big girl. The second half was all Cobham, with Gunn and Vucke . . Vukev . . .Vucev . . Tim tirelessly running down the wings, and Merrell’s Carrick like passing in the middle. Coupled with the battling of Hole and Goodbody, Cobham, for once, looked like a well-oiled machine as they played with the confidence that the previous manager had managed to disperse. The first proper chance of the half fell to Hole after a lightning run down the left by Paine.
He sprung the offside trap and easily accelerated away from the lethargic efforts of White and co to get back. As he entered the box, he looked up to see Hole waiting on the edge of the box. The ball was pulled back and as Scott went to pull the trigger, with the whole of the Cobham willing it to sail into the net, it hit a bullet hole and bobbled over his foot. Just as Scott was going to collect his leg from the astro-turf, it landed at Gunn’s feet, but his effort from his cobweb leg just sailed wide.
After another break from the left, the ball found it’s way to Mawer who took his turn to take aim, but the youngster who’s been setting the world alight at Cobham this season blazed over from 12yards. Cobham were definitely on top, Higgy in the Cobham goal hadn’t had a touch since picking the ball out of his net about an hour ago. Then, came the inspired substitutions, Dan Moore made his return in place of the tired but still running Vukcevic, and the luckless Mawer was replaced by Temps. Within 5 minutes of his introduction, Moore had created the equaliser. As he whipped in the inswinging corner, the hapless defender on the near post headed it into the roof of his own net. Own goal!! Finally a bit of luck! 1-1.
With only 10 minutes left, Cobham were pushing for a winner. So much so that they were nearly caught on the break again. Only a last gasp trip my Dan Moore prevented their winger racing clear. A blatant professional foul, deserving of a red card, but bizarrely, no card shown. Borough however did have a free kick 25yards from goal. With the seconds slowly ticking away, all Cobham hearts were in Cobham mouths as the striker stepped up. He connected cleanly and bent the ball into the top left hand side of the goal, disaster 2-1. There were mere seconds left in the match. Despite a string of late corners, where 21 of the 22 players on the pitch were in the Poole area, but to no avail. A gallant display but still ended in a gutting defeat. 2-1 to the Borough – gits.