Cobham 2 Tooting and Mitcham United 0
Combined Counties - 06/12/2025
Report by: Ed Parlett
Match Report
It might have been more interesting had we managed to keep things tight (and goalless) for longer than the two minutes (!) we did manage. The hosts were sharper to a couple of loose balls that ping-ponged around the edge of the penalty area, and home winger Dean Rule sent a powerful strike flying into the bottom corner of Toby McKimm’s net.
Our attempts to play our way back into things gradually began to bear fruit – in terms of possession at least. Despite the confidence the early strike must have given them (allied to a number of convincing victories in recent weeks, both here and away) Cobham obviously treated us with the utmost respect, and didn’t try to force the issue which might have left gaps at the back. Consequently, our neat passing game saw us make inroads into their half, but a tight defence frustrated our attempts to create anything tangible, and we were restricted to long-range efforts and set-pieces which never looked likely to breach Harry Cawdron in the home goal, or his back-line marshalled superbly by Hakeem Gbadamassi who was dominant in the air.
Once again, the Terrors emerged for the second period looking positive, and enjoyed a lot of the early play. It was very reminiscent of the first-half, though, in terms of (lack of) clear-cut chances created. Just before the hour, and against the run of play it has to be said, the league-leaders doubled their advantage with the prolific Derrick Hayford netting their second goal from a well-worked move. With the Hammers only conceding nine goals in their eighteen matches so far this season (an average of one goal every two games, if maths is not your strong point), it was a huge ask of Tooting to breach them twice in little more than half an hour.
It would have made for an interesting finale to the game if we could have converted one of the half-chances we created thereafter, but it wasn’t to be and Cobham held on – reasonably comfortably – for the points.
Overall, we limited the champions-elect to very little across the afternoon, but have to accept they were more clinical than us when it mattered, and we must lick our wounds and regroup ready to ensure we can keep the consistency that has seen us maintain a top-five placing for much of the campaign, over the second half of the season.