Cobham Football Club - Season 2008/2009

Report by Andy.

Cobham got their points of the season in this match against Dorking on what was a hot and sunny day after weeks of clouds and rain. A number of Cobham players were making their 1st team debut and were looking to perform well.

The game started as a very even affair as both teams tested each other out though the home side had the first decent chance on goal as from a corner the ball was headed into the side netting at the back post. However, this was an isolated incident as Dorking pressed more players forward and were effectively keeping Cobham pegged back. The away side could have taken advantage of this early dominance if they had scored on the quarter hour after some dogged play allowed Dorking's left sided midfielder a shot on goal that just curled wide. The sparse crowd did not have much longer to wait for the first goal and it went to the home side - a cross from Cobham left back Paul Hicks evaded the central defenders and fell to Michael Carpenter who knocked the ball towards the goal, past the oncoming goalie and into the path of Nick Tooley hovering to make sure of the goal. Both sides then had very good chances to increase the score but were either foiled by the respective 'keepers or by poor finishing. Dorking equalised just before half-time as the referee awarded Dorking a dubious penalty following a clumsy challenge on away side's lanky forward who went down rather too easily. The same forward then hit the penalty down the middle of the goal as the home goal-keeper dived to his left. For the remainder of the half Dorking had the wind in their sails with Cobham holding on. HT 1-1.

The second half was an action packed, five goal affair:

• 51 mins - Cobham's right midfielder put clear and crosses to unmarked Carpenter who shoots home = 2 - 1. The home side are obviously pushing more players forward and so are threatening more.
• 70 mins - Dorking player chases a 50/50 through-ball in race with Cobham 'keeper Nick McGregor who misses the ball allowing the away side to equalise = 2 - 2.
• 72 mins - Cobham take the lead again via an in-swinging free-kick taken by Paul Durrans from the right that skims some heads and goes into the net = 3 - 2. Both sides are creating chances and Dorking could easily have scored again if it was not for two excellent saves by McGregor.
• 77 mins - Cobham score again as Carpenter seals his hat-trick with a fantastic first-time volley into the top left corner, following an assist by Tooley = 4 - 2.
• 90 mins - Tooley gets on the score sheet after Richard Gunney beats two tackles down the Cobham right and passes into the centre = 5 - 2.

Overall Cobham will be happy with the 5-2 win and some superb goals although Dorking will be aggrieved about letting in so many in what in fairness was a even game.

Cobham team - McGregor, Gunney (sub Evans 90+5 mins), Hicks, Wilson, Andrews, Dynan, Durrans (sub Cormack 82mins), Pitcher, Carpenter (sub Thorne 82mins), Tooley, Rose.