6th October 2007

Bridgwater Sports 3-3 Cossington

Team: Rawle, R. Smith, Caddy, Prowse, Dodden, Gardner, Tucker, Cocks, McGann, Fursland, Sealey

Subs: C. Clarke, Jones, Wood (Not used)

Scorers: Dodden (9), R. Smith (15), Cocks (75)

This local derby with Cossington really proved that Football is a game of two halves!!

Sports were boosted by the return of Chris Clarke on the subs bench but had to make some reinforced changes with Paul Organ going with the Colts to regain match fitness and Jason 'Fry' Jones sitting on the bench after missing last weeks game with a broken nose.

Sports started the brighter and played some outstanding stuff which had Cossy on the rack and it was no surprise when a Matt Fursland cross (with his left foot!) was converted by the 'Fox in the Box' Si Dodden after only ten minutes.

More pressure from Sports resulted in Dave Gardner being tripped inside the box which allowed veteran Richard Smith cooly slot home his first goal since his return to his boyhood club. 2-0 and crusing after only 15 minutes.

This could have been much worse for Cossy who were getting ripped apart at times however Sports' finishing again were to let them down. Cossy in all fairness never gave up and broke quickly to test the resolve of the back three of Sports to no avail.

No doubt Cossington were pleased to hear the half time whistle blow. During the half time talk it was said that the next goal is golden (Sir David Sealey's golden words every game!) and that we were to go out and try and kill the game off early.

Once again when the second half started Sports were still on the touchline as they let Cossington dictate the momentum of the game. Sports were quiet, cheap with the ball and looked nothing like the team of the first half however with the clock ticking down & 2 goals up surely that was ok?

Not a chance! Firstly an error from the recent reliable Adam Rawle let a lonf distance effort from Simon Caddy slip in and then just two minutes later a scramble across Sports' goal saw James Hamilton tap home from an offside position, however the referee saw different claiming the ball had already crossed the line!

Manager Bale had seen enough and was about to make some changes when unbelievably Cossy striker Hamilton finished neatly to make it 3-2 and 3 goals in just 5 crazy minutes.

Sports made two changes bringing on Chris Clarke and Jason Jones which bought a change in the game and ten minutes later it became 3-3. A needless foul on Jones near the half way line allowed Darryl Cocks to knock a high ball into the Cossington area which went over everyone including ex Sports Keeper Scott 'Coco' Collard and into the net!

This gave Sports renewed belief that they could go on and get the winner but it was not to be and when the final whistle blew Sports knew they had thrown a way three points. Credit to Cossington though as they never gave up hope and fully deserved their point.