Report

MILES BETTER THAN LUCKY HIGHMOOR

Cookham Dean dominated possession for most of this match and deserved the points but Highmoor rode their luck and escaped with an unlikely share.
The home side started brightly with Jon Schaaf having an effort saved and Richard Webb heading a Sean Gavagan cross just over.
Cookhams early dominance could not be turned in to goals but they turned the screw with a succession of corners that had the visitors defence stretched to the limit.

Paul Sharp was having a storming match in midfield and he set up the next chance and a
powerful Jon Schaaf effort brought a fine save from the Ibis Keeper but still there was no breakthrough for Cookham Dean.

However Highmoor did threaten on the break and Nick Bovingdon in the home goal was out smartly to clear one dangerous raid after 40 minutes. The visitors went even closer moments before the break when a superb volley from Arron Baker produced a brilliant save from Bovingdon and the sides went in at half time all square.

The Dean were fastest out of the traps after the interval with Lee Miles causing the visitors all kinds of trouble down the right flank. One excellent run and cross was unlucky not to reap a reward and minutes later the same player mis-cued his shot after more good play.

But with all their efforts coming to nothing for the home side the inevitable happened on 50 minutes when Highmoor scored against the run of play. A quick break - a decent cross - and a smart turn and finish from Jamel Forde-Small gave the visitors the lead.

A frantic period of play followed and there were chances at both ends - Ollie Webb fired over for Cookham while at the other end there was a lucky escape when Highmoor's Shane Small-King's shot hit David Olver on the line before being cleared. A second goal then would have been very cruel and would also have been hard to recover from - but for the rest of the match the Dean cranked up the tempo and pinned the visitors back.

With the clock ticking the home side piled on the pressure - and there were plenty of chances - in one attack the players were queuing up to shoot - Andy Duncan, Oli Webb and
Schaaf all had shots blocked or saved.

With time running out there was one last chance for Cookham Dean and at long last they finally took it. Nick Bovingdon advanced to take a free kick on the half way line - Schaaf flicked it on - the outstanding Paul Sharp climbed above the crowd to nod down and LEE MILES was on hand to produce a cool finish
It was no more than the home side deserved - they had worked hard for the whole 90 minutes - and the 1-1 score line actually felt like a victory because of the late late goal.

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