Report

Woodcote dramatically won the game with a penalty moments before the full time whistle was due to blow. Richard Webb was cruelly penalised for a challenge on the visitors centre back who went down in a crowded Cookham box following a corner – the decision incensed the home side who had done more than enough to earn at least a share of the points.

The match had started at a good pace but the fact still remained that this was the Deans third match in six days and they looked a little sluggish in the early stages and Woodcotes Toby Nowell was allowed too much time and space before shooting the visitors ahead on 14 minutes. However Cookham rallied and soon had a chance to draw level when a goalbound strike was handled on the line by Woodcotes Jake Dillon. Unfortunately for the visitors Dillon received a straight Red card for his trouble but their keeper Nathan Silver kept out Xavier Etienne’s spot kick with a good save - unluckily for Cookham it was apparently the in-form Silver's fifth concecutive penalty save for Woodcote.

But the Dean did equalise on the half hour when a peach of a cross from Sean Gavagan was met by OLLIE WEBBS perfectly timed diving header

There was little to choose between the sides until the start of the second half when Cookham Dean came out of the traps the fastest but Woodcotes keeper was in fine form and produced several good saves including one exceptional save from an powerful Etienne free kick that he some how managed to deflect onto the crossbar.

Soon after the visitors responded and hit the woodwork themselves as the game opened up and as the game swung from end to end Woodcotes keeper made yet another good stop this time from Lee Miles after Richard Webb had enjoyed a storming run down the left flank.

For Woodcote though only a win was enough to keep them in the title race and they were getting a little edgy as the clock ticked down – sparks were flying in the closing stages and Woodcotes Teejay Allison and Cookhams Etienne both received their marching orders after one incident and the Deans Gavagan also went for a blatant foul on the time wasting James Worfold

Both sides were reduced to nine men in the last five minutes and there was just enough time to find a winner - a great chance fell to Lee Miles but this time his shot was straight at the keeper who gathered the ball before starting off one last desperate push forward for the visitors who forced a corner. The kick saw several players challenge for the cross and although Richard Webb clearly headed the ball away the Woodcote centre half Mike Highley collided with him and fell awkwardly to the floor – to the dismay of the home side the Referee pointed to the spot, with man of the match Webb mortified Paul Knox scored in the corner for Woodcote despite keeper Nick Bovingdon getting a hand on the ball.

There had been a few handbags towards the end of the game as emotions were running a little high, particularly with so much at stake for the visitors – but nearly all of the Woodcote players joined Cookhams players in the bar afterwards and the talk was of a highly charged and exciting game played between two good sides who had been fully committed.