Cobra  0   v   Parsonage  1

Echo League: Essex

Played Sun 25 Sept 2005

The game was barely 4 minutes old and Parsonage were guilty of missing 3 one on ones with the Cobra keeper, a scuffed shot smashed wide from 5 yards out and an unbelievable miss where somehow the ball was scooped over the bar from a Parsonage player who was virtually standing on the goal line.  Throughout the rest of the half Parsonage dominated but more poor finishing and a fine save from the Cobra keeper kept the score at 0.0. (We could have and should have been 6.0 up at half time as confirmed with Paul the Cobra Manager after the game). 

Cobra played much better in the second half as Parsonages annoyance for missing so many chances, boiled over as they lost their shape and passing play.  Cobra finally got into the game and the lively Owen up front forced Conner into making a fine save (is the Con Man back?) with another cobra effort going just wide. 

With ten minutes to go Parsonage got back into the game but by now Cobra had grown in confidence and although we were seeing more of the ball the Cobra defence were restricting us to less opportunities.  That said more missed chances followed but again Parsonage couldn’t find the target.  With 5 minutes to go a low cross at the near post was unfortunately turned into his own net by a Cobra player.  How ironic that the game would be decided like that as Parsonage could have played for another hour and probably still not have scored.  This was confirmed in the last minute as a Ryan Mallet free-kick was superbly kept out by the Cobra keeper, who moments later produced what is contender for save of the season, from the same players bullet header.  Finished 0.1. 

Yes our finishing was woeful today but credit has to be given for creating so many chances. Another plus was our defending which was solid.  In other matches we are not going to get so many chances so it is vital we start finding the back of the net.  I suppose every team has a match in the season where they cant score for love nor money and hopefully this was ours.  One win from one game, 3 points on the board and two weeks before our next game to enable us to practice the art of finishing.

As for Cobra well they were perfect hosts.  Sporting kids and parents and very good and fair refereeing display.  Newly promoted Cobra haven’t got off points wise to a good start but they have only been beaten by one goal in their 3 matches so far and hopefully they can start to get some points on the board

 Parsonage Team

Kain, Bearman, Cope, Mallett, Morris, Ragon,

O'Sullivan, Grigg, Lawrence,