Cookham Dean 1
Wendover Juniors 0

The boys burst onto the ball with an uncharacteristically energetic start, calling and pushing hard from the first whistle. The heavens had opened on the way down, a persistent sheet of grey rain softening a hard and well groomed pitch. The opening few minutes were a physical and action packed spell of Cookham attacking play.

Moments later the expected counter attack came, this time the defence were as alert as the midfield, and with Will, Ben, and Sam moving the ball around, staying composed and picking their passes well, the counter didn’t look convincing; and moments later Cookham were back at the Wendover end.

Once again Cookham pushed towards the Wendover goal, with some early shots goalward in the first ten minutes, the Wendover keeper strong and skilful, controlling the defence.

Again Wendover came back at us with some lovely overhead clearances from Ben and a hard working Paul physically dominating well on and off the ball.

As we moved well into the first half the teamwork was really telling; sharp passing, good control, strong calling, and in the moments that Wendover won possession , not giving the opposition a moment on the ball.

Wendover too tried to step on the gas, crowding the Cookham players, but Louie in the middle was dodging and duckin,g facing the physical challenges and driving though with possession. Next a lovely corner was headed off the line by a strong Wendover defence, a floating, curving, falling free kick from Sam tipped over the bar perfectly, in a leaping fingertip save by the Wendover keeper.

There was more attacking from concerted but sometimes scrappy team play, which failed to register on the scoresheet by the end of the first; despite Cookham having camped in the Wendover goal area for the majority of the game. This was partly thanks to slippery on the ball feeds up to the strikers, partly the crowded and enthusiastic defence of the opposition, and partly strong goalkeeping and marshalling the defensive line.

In the second half the lads showed the same positive energy from the off. Wendover also came out re-invigorated, but Jack back to fitness and pushing the ball to Miley who in turn teamed with Sam for a strike at Wendover’s goal within 2 minutes of the off once again set the scene for what was to be another Cookham half.

Wendover came back in a handful of unconvincing surges, and Sam was floating back, sliding into a tackle which was picked up in a lovely knock forward by Miles again, and onto the front line for a second shot from an eager Luke, deflected in a textbook diving save.

The next ten minutes of strong play in the middle with Tom, Harry and Louie moving the ball around confidently, was a barrage of goal attempts, despite Cookham playing uphill in this half the game was still being taken to the Wendover end.

Once again Louie was dancing amongst the white Wendover shirts with the ball glued to his feet, Harry and Tom’s pace picking up on the opportunities he was creating and feeding back into the middle, now with Tom Harvey forcing a way through the attentive throng of Wendover midfielders.

A Cookham corner found a Cookham head, and once again was deflected to disbelieving gasps from the touchline.

Now Ollie was roaming, feeding a one touch pass to Sam who fired another blinder forwards, then Louie charging through the middle and Cookham running on. Harry fought hard for another scrappy possession and punched the ball goalward, then Tom Banks ferociously chasing down some fast moving forward passing play created another handful of chances.

The frustration of slippery ground, wet ball, and exhausting close play seemed to be telling on both sides, as Wendover conceded a free kick. Sam stepped up and once again popped the ball long and hard in a superb sailing shot right at the top of the goal for an un-saveable first goal of the game on 25 minutes of the second haf.

A sometimes frustrating game after the 5-2 Wendover victory a couple of weeks ago; at times it was almost like our lads couldn’t quite believe they were dominating the defence and midfield, and the last pass just wasn’t convincing enough to finish despite some excellent individual performances. It should have been 5 nil had that last touch counted and if their keeper hadn’t been so strong today – but a win was well-deserved and well earnt thanks to some hard work.