News

Cobham 2 - 1 Alton

09 Jan 23

Another frustrating afternoon for Alton on Saturday as they were unable to build a significant enough lead having dominated the chances in the first half.

Match report by Dave Hawtin

The home side were able to take advantage of some sloppy defending during a 15 minute period in the early stages of the second half - with a squall of awful weather that descended on the ground and drove wind and rain straight into the visitors faces, which turned the game on it’s head - scoring twice to ultimately take the 3 points.

During the first half the visitors were content to concede territory and use the width and pace of Mdlalose and Caborn to constantly open up the home defence on the break.

Four really good goal scoring chances were created in that period but Alton had to wait until the half hour mark to finally take the lead.

A really nice move down the right ended when Mdlalose stroked the ball home from 20 yards.

Still the chances came and it looked like they had doubled their lead just before the interval when Reffell was in the right place to tap home the rebound after Caborn had used the pace on the ball to flick a shot at goal which the diving keeper parried out. Their celebrations were cut short when the linesman’s flag was raised for offside. It must have been very close!!

The second half was minutes old when the weather played its part. Cobham took advantage and piled forward testing the resilience of the visitors and scoring twice within minutes of each other from really disappointing situations.

The equaliser came direct from a corner as the ball was driven low into the 6 yard box, no one reacted and it ended up in the back of the net without a touch from either side.

Minutes later and the away side were behind. A poor clearance was quickly played into the box and headed home from close range by a striker who the visitors strongly contested was offside. It looked very much a mirror image of the goal Alton had had disallowed earlier in the game but this one went against them.

Mees in the visitors goal then made a diving save to his left to keep the game alive, his last significant action of the game.

As the weather cleared Alton were able to gain territory, Reffell broke clean through but a back tracking defender got in a challenge even though a 2 on one had developed for him as Caborn was free on his left.

Mdlalose was next to break the line and found himself free on the left inside the box but could only shoot straight at the keeper.

The last clear chance fell to Sanderson. Caborn again left the defender in his wake and squared the ball back but he could not sort out his feet quick enough as the ball was slightly behind him and might have fallen better for Mdlalose who was steaming in at the back post.

Alton travel to Badshot Lea tomorrow (Tuesday) night to continue the league campaign, kick off 19:45.