16/4/2008

Sport

Football - Defeat leaves Cobham in relegation mire

Cobham                              1      
Bedfont Green                   2

A SUPERB free kick from Bedfont Green’s Phil Merritt with 12 minutes remaining  broke the resistance of Cobhamdefence at Anvil Lane on Saturday.

Making his debut in goal for the Hammers, Pete Ruggles had a busy start to the game with Bedfont Green on the attack.

Playing with the wind behind them, the visitors took the aerial route and Ruggles needed to save well on several occasions after long upfield kicks by Bedfont.

However, despite the goalkeeper’s efforts, Cobham found themselve a goal behind after 22 minutes following a series of neat interchanges down Bedfont Green's right wing.

Chris Henry broke into the box and hit a low shot that crept in at the near post after Ruggles got a hand to the ball.

Despite going behind, Cobham remained confident that they could take something from the game and worked hard to play in the tireless Dean Pitcher up front.

His efforts eventually paid off when he ran on to a pass from Dan Rousell and,  with the Bedfont goalkeeper advancing, neatly clipped the ball into the far corner to level the score on the stroke of half time.

The second half served up more of the same but with the wind in his face, Bedfont’s long kicks were not as effective as in the first half.

As a result the visitors struggled to put Cobham under any serious pressure and it was the home side who looked more likely to take the lead, with both Hicks and Dalhouse going close.

Shane Rideout consistently delivered excellent free kicks that should have been converted.

However, with 12 minutes remaining Scott Day conceded a free kick 25 yards out from the Cobham goal and Merritt stepped up to drill the ball into the bottom corner of the net to give the visitors the lead.

The remainder of the match saw Cobham attacking in waves in search of the equaliser that they deserved.

Shane Rideout saw two free kicks creep over the bar and then, on 90 minutes, a cross was played into the box to Andy Dalhouse who appeared to be pulled back by a Bedfont Green defender as he tried to control the ball.

But Cobham’s penalty appeals were waved away by the referee.

The official played six minutes of injury time but Cobham were unable to find the goal they needed to ease their relegation fears.

The Anvil Lane side remain second bottom of the Combined Counties table with three games remaining.

First printed in: News & Mail Series