Match Report
Cobham 1 v 5 Chertsey Town, League, March 22nd 2008
Report by Nigel Rousell.
When you are fighting a relegation battle, what you don't need are the leagues top two scorers in town and in Cooper and Pomroy it was going to a case of weathering the storms that they, and the British weather, were going to throw.
During a second half spell we saw all aspects of the new spring season with the game starting and finishing in bright sunshine but also saw a heavy hail storm which turned to snow - so much for the start of spring!
For 40 minutes, the Cobham defence stood firm and resolute with some good firm tackling, until once again, for the third match in a row, Cobham conceded a needless penalty with the referee judging that David Andrews moved his arm to the ball - although not deliberate, enough to warrant a yellow card. The resulting spot kick saw Nick McGregor sent the wrong way. This was a setback on the stroke of half time that visibly affected the home team who, for the first time, allowed their heads to drop. To make matters worse, in time added on a Chertsey player chased down a ball that looked like it was heading for a goal kick, he pulled it back from the bye line to be tapped in for Chertsey's second. With Cobham already using two of their allowed substitutions with Dan Rousell limping off being replaced by Foulkes and Christian Gonzalez coming on for the injured Douglas, it was a dejected team that left the field of play at half time.
With the skies darkening and Cobham kicking into a strong second half wind, it was going to be backs to the wall and the next goal was going to be the key to the outcome and it came on 51 minutes to the visitors. McGregor was forced into a great save low down to his right only to see his effort rebound of off the knee of Andrew Charles and crash into the unguarded net. It was an eventful opening period with Cobham also replacing Dean Pitcher with Shaun Powell, and so, using the last of the available subs. Gonzalez hit back five minutes later with a long range free kick that went straight in, but the comeback didn't last long. Three minutes later the Chertsey player completed his hatrick, when his long range effort bounced awkwardly in front of McGregor and somehow the ball nestled itself in the back of the net. With just under 20 minutes to go, Charles went down under a heavy tackle which saw him limp off and also saw the home side reduced to 10 players having used all the subs. Chertsey were now in ruthless mood, moving the ball round with ease but Cobham stood firm till the 85th minute when they Chertsey scored again leaving it standing at 5-1 to the visitors.
With the weather effecting most games this weekend Cobham stay out of the drop zone.
