Match Report
Raynes Park Vale 4 v 1 Cobham, League, April 5th 2008
Report by Nigel Rousell.
With both teams occupying two of the bottom three places, this was the classic six pointer. Cobham started the day four points ahead of their opposition who have two games in hand, so this was Cobham's chance to pull away and climb up the table.
And they got off to a good start playing up the hill - just like last week's winner against Egham Town, Mark Remnant again found his centre forward Mark Knight who easily lifted the ball over the advancing goalkeeper to put the visitors one up on 11 minutes. The goal left the Vale manager ranting at the referee who had waved played on allowing Cobham to break and score.
Cobham looked to be well in control of the game at this stage and it was certainly not a sign of what was to come but as the clouds darkened over head it was Raynes Park who finished the half the strongest. On 40 minutes they had a good chance to equalise - a cross to the back post was met with a well-executed diving header which forced Rory Parsons to pull off an acrobatic save to turn the ball away for a corner. However, right on the stroke of 45 minutes the heavens opened and so did Cobham's defence who could only watch as the lively Raynes Park player arrived unmarked in the box to fire home the equaliser. This, with the rain, was a major turning point in this fixture.
Both sides returned to the pitch to find the rain had finished but there was a lot of surface water which the two sides took time to adjust to but it was Raynes Park who got to grips with it quicker and looked more up for it. Parsons made a fine full-length finger tipped save which only motivated the home side that were going to go and win the game with some ease. On 66 minutes a Raynes Park shot home to put the home side into the lead and then, as always at 2-1, the next goal was going to be crucial - two minutes later Scott Day danced into the box and shot low and hard forcing the home goalie to save well to his right. Raynes Park counter-attacked and the Cobham defence were caught flat-footed, allowing the home side to score giving Parsons no chance. Two goals in four minutes killed off the game, and Raynes Park scored their fourth 5 minutes from time.
Despite the result, Cobham remain above Raynes Park in the table but with Bedfont losing again, Cobham missed a real chance to ease their relegation worries.
