IT WAS heartache for the third time of asking this season for Merley Cobham Sports, when they went down 2-1 to Sturminster Newton United in the Dorset Senior Trophy final.
Second half goals from Will Guppy and Billy Bright saw the Cherries over the line in this absorbing final, played in front of healthy, lively crowd at the County Ground.
Cobham skipper, Lee Wilkins pulled one back in the 89th minute and with six added minutes, they still had their chances.
But it wasn’t to be as the trophy moved to its north Dorset home, writes Ian Gilmartin.
The Cherries were the first to settle, they could have been in front in the opening minutes of the game when the hesitant Cobham defence failed to deal with things.
But a Cherries forward fluffed his lines and keeper Andy Knights dealt with the issue.
Nick Thomson and Ashley Clarke were winning lots of ball in the midfield and when they brought wide men, Buddy O’Shea and Guppy into the game, they were at their most dangerous for Sturminster.
The Cherries went close again in the 11th minute when Guppy’s dangerous cross to the far post nearly found O’Shea but the ball went wide.
Newton dominated the first 20 minutes and the Cobham midfield were easily second best.
Only a top save from keeper Knights kept the scoreline level in the18th minute.
Cobham were dealt a blow in the 20th minute when they lost midfielder Ellis George to injury. Ross Hampton entered the fray and Cobham gradually clawed their way back into the game.
Callum Perry was unlucky to see a shot flash past the far post in the 29th minute with Theo Crane well beaten.
Three minutes later, Will Guppy brought the very best out of Cobham keeper Knights, he superbly turned a goalbound shot over the bar.
The second half started poorly for Cobham, with less than a minute on the clock they found themselves one down, a long ball found the impressive Guppy in space and he advanced to slot home a shot past the advancing Knights.
Cobham were rocked in the 67th minute when the Cherries increased their lead from a corner which found Bright. He made no mistake with a well-placed header into the far corner.
Trailing by two, Cobham threw former Swanage man Ogun Gundogdu forward and went to three at the back.
But Knights saved well with his feet from O’Shea when the Cherries forward was in oceans of space on the counter.
Time was running out for Cobham but they gave themselves a lifeline in the 89th minute when a cross was headed home by Wilkins.
With six minutes of added time, there was still a chance for the holders.
Josh Buck and Elliot Rossiter both saw good crosses flash across the danger area but Cobham could not get anyone on the end of them.
The Cherries then took the ball to the corner and killed the game off and the final whistle blew to send the strong contingent of Cherries fans into delirium with a 2-1 victory.
(Pictures: Ben Chandler Photography)
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