Late lapse in concentration ends win hopes

Cobdown men’s 1sts battled to a 4- 4 draw at Gillingham Anchorians 3rds in Kent Open Division 1. They turned around trailing 3-2, with goals from Dom Brown and youngster Brook Fowler. The visitors started the second half strongly and within four minutes were 4-3 in front through goals from man-ofthe-match Mark Brown and Nick Shread. Cobdown continued to pile pressure on to the Anchorians’ back line but left themselves exposed and with five minutes to go, the Gillingham side snatched an equaliser. The men’s 2nds lost 1- 0 to Sutton Valence 4ths in Kent Open Division 4. The only goal came midway through the first half when a Cobdown goalmouth resulted in the ball ricocheting into the net. When a downpour followed, the scoring attempts of both sides were hampered by large puddles on the pitch. The ladies’ 1sts were beaten 3-1 by Tunbridge Wells 4ths in Kent Division 3. But they walked off at the end with their heads high after a spirited performance. And they received some reward in the second half when, after weeks of winning short corners and not scoring from them, they finally converted one through Jen Divall after she was set up by Jo Fowler. Cobdown’s Tracy Wyatt was awarded player-of-thematch for her solid defensive display. The ladies’ 2nds game with Folkestone Optimists 4ths in Kent Division 5 was abandoned in the second half after one of the Cobdown players had to be taken to hospital following a nasty fall. But she was later released with no serious injuries and Cobdown, who were losing 2- 0 at the time, are looking forward to meeting Folkestone again later in the season. On Sunday, a mixture of Cobdown ladies’ 1sts and 2nds took on Sevenoaks in the Kent Vase. The teams went in at the break at 1-1 after player-of-the-match Helen Barling cancelled out a Sevenoaks strike. Oaks regained the lead in the second half but again Cobdown fought back with an equaliser from Charlie Frampton. Cobdown then soaked up a lot of pressure and some superb saves by stand-in goalkeeper Sue Rea ensured they kept Sevenoaks at bay. Marden Russets men’s 1sts remain in the top half of South League Regional Kent/ Sussex 1 after their 3-2 victory at Old Williamsonians on Saturday. Dan Edwards scored his third hat-trick of the season as the men’s 2nds won 4-3 against Blackheath. Russets were pegged back three times before winning the Kent Area Division 1 game. Frustration continued for the ladies’ 1sts in a 3-0 defeat at Canterbury in the Kent Women’s League, Premier Division.