Cobham Sports failed to take advantage of leaders Dorchester Sports not playing on Saturday’s DPL programme when they lost their first league match since September 28th 2024, they visited Swanage Town & Herston, who were also unbeaten at home this season and went down by 3-2. Swanage led 1-0 at the break through Ogun Gundogdu and were three up with 72 minutes on the clock, Gundogdu with his second and a goal from “willing horse” Josh Reavenall-Nuete and were in control of the game but a late rally from Cobham, changing tactics and with the help of the bench they came so close to snatching a draw in the second minute of added on time, Ellis George got one back and Joe Wood duly obliged with around 15 minutes on the clock to go but it was too little, too late and the three points stayed in the Purbecks.

 

Cobham got off to the worst possible start when they lost Aldo Bertorelli in the first minute, an innocuous challenge saw him fall to the ground holding his left shoulder, he subsequently left the field and was taken to A&E in Poole. Cobham, however, started really well with Tino Maher shooting just wide in the 5th minute and Callum Clarke carving out a chance for himself in the 8th minute but his shot was just too high. Lee Wilkins had a shot saved by Taylor Hibbs in the 9th minute but just a minute later Cobham got a reprieve after they were caught on the counter and Reavenall-Nuete chipped Jack Robertson to find the net but the referee disallowed the goal as he was adjudged to have handled the ball in the process. Swanage hit the front in the 15th minute when they won a free kick 3 yards outside of the box on the right, up stepped Ogun Gundogdu to fire a fine left footed drive into the far top corner to give the home side a 1-0 lead. The pitch was so heavy making life difficult for ball players so general play from both sides was scrappy, that said, Swanage worked harder for each other and they carved out another chance in the 35th minute and the onrushing Robertson in the Cobham goal was maybe fortunate to stay on the pitch when he felled Reavenall-Nuete outside the box but he was just shown a yellow and Swanage squandered the free kick as the sides went to the break with Swanage holding a one goal lead.

 

Cobham started sharply in the second half with Callum Clarke having a header saved in the 54th minute and a shot saved in the 59th minute as Cobham went to the bench. While Cobham were settling Swanage took the initiative and they won a free kick out on the left in the 70th minute, Sam Herrington swung a free kick to the far post and Gundogdu had a free header which beat Robertson and nestled into the far corner of the net. Back came Cobham and in the 72nd minute Clarke was fed on the left, the winger skated down the line, cut in and hit a crisp drive across Hibbs and the goalkeeper saved well, from the rebound Swanage cleared and caught Cobham on the counter, Reavenall-Nuete won the race between himself and Robertson and he poked the ball home from 18 yards, 3-0 Swanage. Cobham struck back immediately in the 73rd minute and clawed a goal back, Ionel Ciprian Lolot crossed from the left and Ellis George headed home well. Cobham threw everything at Swanage and George had the opportunity to score again with his head but the ball just cleared the crossbar. Swanage were always dangerous on the break and Curtis Young went close in the 79th minute, his shot finding the side netting but back came Cobham and they narrowed the gap with a second goal in the 83rd minute, Dan Brown found Joe Wood in the box and the striker calmly found the back of the net, 3-2 and game on. Cobham continued their dominance til the end and they nearly grabbed an equaliser in the second minute of added on time, Asa Phillips cleared from the line by desperate defending but it was too little, too late for Cobham as Swanage grabbed a deserved three points courtesy of their 3-2 win.

 

Ian Gilmartin