Combined Counties League Division One – Saturday 3rd September 2011
Warlingham F.C. 1 Cobham F.C. 2

Today brings two teams together who have suffered with their early season form with just one win between them in 9 games. The local derby win against Farleigh Rovers on Bank Holiday Monday should have improved the Wars confidence and hopefully put us right back on track. Everything we have done this season throughout the club has been excellent and all we need is 1st team positive results to see some output for all the hard work.

The game started at the usual quick pace with end to end football as both teams sought to develop an advantage. In the 6th minute a smart interchange between Roache and Neaves saw Neaves put Penfold through and his touch was assured as he slotted the ball across the Cobham keeper and in at the far post. Wars 1-0 up and looking sharp.

The game was still evenly matched and Cobham created a half chance with an overhead effort from the around penalty which failed to trouble Coote in goal. Shortly afterwards Bugden made good progress down the left but was unable to take full advantage as he was cut off as he tried to cut inside.

After 20 minutes Cobham equalised. Wars failed to close down a right wing cross and three Cobham forwards were lining up at the far post to head home. Scott Day made contact and put Cobham back on terms 1-1.

Cobham were now in the ascendency and were through again on 26 minutes with a superb block from Broom snuffing out the danger. Within minutes Weeks was forced to give away a free kick and at the same time aggravate his hamstring problem which in turn terminated his involvement. The free kick was sent across the box and the Cobham shot blocked. Weeks was replaced by Pledge on 30 minutes.

Higgins was his normal committed self in central midfield and his never say die efforts on 35 minutes saw win the ball and burst forward only to finish with a weak effort that the Cobham keeper was able to save. Straight up the other end and Higgins is heading a corner clear. As the half end Martin has a speculative shot from 30 yards which end up well wide.

Half time 1-1

Spencer came on to replace injured and bloodied Bugden at half time. He was straight into the action as the second half got underway with a run and shot in the 46 minute as Wars came out looking like they had had their ear holes warmed in the break!

Manning crossed on 48 minutes and the ball was deflected over for a corner. Neaves delivered it into the danger zone and Roache got his head to the ball to send it goal ward but Wars were to be disappointed as it was cleared off the line.

As the game went on it became longer and longer as route one began to take over. Coote made a great save after 55 minutes and pushed the ball away for a corner after Wars carelessly gave the ball away.

The end to end stuff continued and our ball players Martin and Penfold were largely being bypassed. 53 minutes and Day shot from the edge of the box for Coote to make another save. He should have done better. A minute later and Wars created an excellent chance as Penfold broke down the left and crossed hard and low right across the box to find Baker coming in from the right. He put it straight back and Spencer just failed to connect as the chance went.

Roache was replaced by Dias after 61 minutes.

Day was having an increasing influence for Cobham despite Higgins efforts to shut him out of the game. Cobham were getting stronger and stronger as first Day lobbed the ball over our defence only for a combination of Neaves and Pledge to shut out the danger and ferry the ball back to Coote. Then Baker inadvertently presented Baxter with the ball and somehow he managed to miss and allow Neaves to clear.

Dias was caught offside on 74 minutes as a Neaves through ball was slightly deflected otherwise he was bearing down on goal without a Cobham player in sight. Then a minute later Cobham made Wars pay for giving the ball away cheaply in the last third as Baxter lobbed the onrushing Coote to go 2-1 up.

Wars kept up the effort and Spencer should have equalised just 3 minutes later as Dias crossed leaving him a shot on goal which he miskicked wide. Wars kept up the effort as Neaves found Dias who was forced wide and the keeper was able to save his shot.

Cobham were under some pressure as the game reached its conclusion with a Martin free kick finding Baker whose shot was deflected over for a corner which was then cleared to Neaves who could only steer it back to the Cobham keeper. Spencer and Dias then combined only for Dias to shot over and it was all over.

Team: Coote, Manning, Baker, Neaves, Broom, Weeks, Higgins, Martin, Roache, Penfold, Bugden, Subs used: Pledge, Spencer, Dias

MOM: Higgins fought hard in midfield. Broom was solid at the back and Coote made some great saves. I didn’t think anybody deserved the award. Weeksy did win the Player of the Month award for August for his efforts and commitment and thoroughly deserved it was to.

We need to quickly gel as a team and start to reap the benefit of all the good players we have to call on. Next week Farnham Town in the Vase. They have started well in the Premier Division and it will be a very hard game – Sunday 11th September 3pm KO.