MERLEY Cobham Sports defeated Wareham Rangers 10-1 at Merley Park Sports in the first real winter conditions in the Dorset Premier League.

The home team took no time in taking the lead when Elliot Rossiter was put in by Ellis George, in the fourth minute, to put Cobham one up. They increased their lead in the eighth minute when Steven Gilbert headed home following a corner.

Josh Buck received an excellent pass from Nathan Walker in the 19th minute and rounded the keeper to finish well. Cobham increased their lead to 4-0 just three minutes later when Walker rose well to head goalwards from a corner and Dan Edwards applied the finishing touch from close range.

Buck put Cobham five up, again rounding the keeper.

Good inter play down the left saw Callum Perry finish well with a cross shot giving the keeper no chance and put Cobham 6-0 in front before half-time.

The second half saw Wareham start well and they were finding some holes in the Cobham midfield but they were rocked further just five minutes into the half when Buck completed a well-earned hat trick to make it seven.

Just three minutes later, Wareham capitalised on some complacency in a Cobham attack and they countered to pull a goal back.

Cobham responded well to this setback but were reduced 10 men in the 58th minute when full-back John Pritchard was sent from the field.

This only seemed to buoy Cobham and just two minutes later Matt Groves received a ball with one touch and finished well from 18 yards with his second touch to make it 8-1.

Cobham rang the changes and the youngsters brought on added pace and kept the pressure on their opponents.

Wareham were reduced to 10 men when a player was sin binned and it was no surprise in the 79th minute when Walker finished well, at the second attempt, to make it nine.

To cap off a fine day for Cobham, Groves added a well taken second goal to complete the rout.