Match Report
Cobham 1 v 2 Bedfont Green, League, April 12th 2008
Report by Nigel Rousell.
A superb free kick with 12 minutes left broke Cobham's resilient defence in a game that seemed like a share of the points which would have been a fair result on the balance of play.
With Pete Ruggles making his debut in goal for the Hammers, he had a busy start to the game with Bedfont kicking with a strong wind behind them - their goalkeeper was able to see his drop kicks land in the opposite goal mouth on three separate occasions. Cobham forced corners only to see him gather the ball and launch monster clearances leaving Ruggles to save well on all occasions resulting in Cobham immediately having to defend a corner after taking their own moments earlier. Again manager Ken Reed entrusted the survival in the hands of the youth players with four of them involved in today's match and with the team's average playing age of 20 years, what they may lack in experience they certainly made up for in effort and spirit. They found themselves a goal down on the 22nd minute after a series of neat interchanges down Bedfont Green's right wing, the resulting shot went low and hard to Ruggles left, who will feel that he was unlucky to see his save creep in at the near post. Cobham continued to believe, kept playing the ball up to Dean Pitcher who never stopped running and chasing all afternoon. His efforts eventually paid off as he chased on to a through ball from Dan Rousell and with the 'keeper advanced towards him, Pitcher neatly clipped it into the far corner to level the match on the stroke of half time.
The second half served up more of the same but now with the wind in his face, Bedfont's goal kicks were not as deep and probing as the first half. Without it, Bedfont Green struggled to put Cobham under any serious pressure and it was Cobham who looked likely to take the lead both with Hicks and Andy Dalhouse going close. Shane Rideout consistently delivered excellent free kicks that should have been converted; all that was needed was someone to attack them with belief. With 12 minutes to go the referee, who had waved play on from a Scott Day challenge, pulled it back as no advantage had been gained. Allowing the visitors a free kick 25 yards out from goal which was driven to perfection, low and hard into the bottom corner; certainly unfortunate for a team desperate for points. The remainder of the match saw Cobham attacking in waves in search of the equaliser that they deserved. Rideout saw two free kicks creep over the bar and then on 90 minutes the ball was played in to the box to Dalhouse who, as he went to control it, appeared to be pulled back by a Bedfont Green defender. A huge penalty shout which was waved away by the referee, who added six minutes of stoppage time, but in the end the clock ran down.
Cobham were left pointless but the performance was much improved on last week, and it will not be long before the win which will hopefully take them above Bedfont and away from the relegation zone.
