19/3/2008

Sport

Football - Late penalty denies Cobham win

Cobham                               3
North Greenford                3

A LATE penalty for visitors North Greenford denied Cobham a home win at Anvil Lane on Saturday.

On balance a draw was perhaps the right result and Cobham manager Ken Reed would have been grateful for one point in the first half after seeing his new look side concede twice in the opening 20 minutes.

Four players were left out after the away defeat at Colliers Wood, with Dean Pitcher returning to partner Andy Dalhouse up front.

However, Cobham made the  worst start possible when they conceded from Greenford’s first corner.

The set piece was only half cleared and immediately lobbed back into the penalty area where Greenford’s centre half Peacock fired home with a powerful drive from 18 yards, giving Nick McGregor in Cobham’s goal no chance.

Only a fine save from  McGregor prevented the home side conceding from the next corner and the Cobham goalkeeper was busy for much of the first half as Greenford pressed forward.

McGregor was unable to do anything to prevent the visitors extending their lead on 17 minutes when the Cobham defence was punished for overelaborating and Senior pounced on an opening to make the score 2-0.

As the half progressed Cobham captain Mark Remnant and Scott Day began to win the battle in the centre of midfield, but it took a last-gasp tackle from centre half Dave Andrews to prevent the home team going 3-0 down when Greenford broke shortly after the half hour mark.

Cobham reduced the deficit in the 37th minute when Mark Remnant’s free kick was met by Dave Andrews who guided  a looping header over the visitors’ goalkeeper and into the net.

Greenford tried to restore their advantage immediately and McGregor was called upon to perform a double save to keep Cobham from conceding again.

However, his heroics between the posts seemed to encourge his team mates and Cobham began to play with greater confidence.

Just before half time Cobham equalised when Robbie Wilson drove down the right wing before crossing to Andy Dalhouse who headed home to make the score 2-2.

A double substitution at the start of the second half saw Andrew Charles replace the unwell Lee Gamble and Simon Taylor make way for debutant winger Anton Douglas.

Douglas’ impact was almost immediate as he orchestrated Cobham’s third goal, making space for himself with some fast footwork before driving a low cross into the Greenford penalty area that Dean Pitcher stabbed home.

Having taken the lead, Cobham enjoyed an extended spell of pressure and would have scored again but for the efforts of North Greenford’s goalkeeper.

A fine one-handed save from a Scott Day volley was followed soon after by another Day effort that the Greenford keeper blocked with his legs.

However, as full time approached with Cobham set for a win, the referee penalised Dave Andrews for a tackle on a Greenford striker in the area.

Mills made no mistake with the spot kick and Greenford drew level 3-3.
Cobham attacked in the final minutes in search of a winner but the visitors held out for the draw.

First printed in: News & Mail Series