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Six goals shared in a thriller for the neural

Goerge Dodds
24/ 4/2008

COCK are still looking for their first win of the season, but they did manage to break a six-game losing streak and pick up their third point with a spirited comeback.

They looked dead and buried as Gardeners raced into a 3-0 lead after 28 minutes, but they rallied round the attacking exploits of fullback Danny Simpson to bag a point in the last minute.

Simpson’s Exocet-like long throws and inswinging corners were behind most of the home side’s most dangerous moves in what was a competitive, and always enjoyable match.

Gardeners’ striker John Allott was at the centre of the early action, linking well with Jon and Anthony Burton to put the home defence under pressure.

He should have fired his side ahead when he beat the offside trap, but OC goalkeeper Mark Greenwood stood his ground and stuck out a foot as the striker tried to shoot rather than take the ball round him.

Seconds later Greenwood denied Burton with another good save, but the ball fell to Allott and he didn’t need a second invitation to break the deadlock.

Dean Byrne fired Gardeners further ahead after 22 minutes when his powerful shot from the edge of the area took a deflection into the back of the net.

Gardeners were threatening to put the game beyond the reach of the home side and it took timely interventions from defenders Martin Holme and Matt Derrig to keep them at bay.

Gardeners’ goalkeeper Steve O’Neill got down well to save from Rich Power, and almost immediately he was applauding long-serving striker Allott who latched onto a poor clearance and rifled home Gardeners’ third goal with a cracking first-time shot.

A good run by Matt Derrig gave OC some hope, then two minutes before the interval Joe Derrig broke through the middle and shot his side back into the game.

Into the strong wind OC stepped their game up, with Simpson’s long throws aimed for the blonde head of Holme and causing mayhem in the Gardeners’ defence.

That combination was responsible for the home side’s second goal after 56 minutes. A throw was only half cleared and Holme rifled home a superb volley from eight-yards out.

Suddenly Gardeners were under intense pressure after seemingly coasting towards victory.

OC won a string of corners in quick succession, Simpson rifled in his long throws, and Lee Walsh and Tom Quinn worked hard to take control of the midfield area.

Lenny Wilcock tried to lift Gardeners from their torpor, but it took a superb block to deny Simpson as OC pushed forward with renewed confidence.

Gardners had three chances in quick succession, Burton firing across the face of goal after a defensive blunder and then shooting tamely at Greenwood after a good link-up with Allott and substitute Niall McCloskey. Greenwood also did well to tip over a long-range shot.

Those misses came back to haunt Gardeners in the last minute.

And there was little surprise at the form the equaliser took. Simpson hurled another bullet into the six-yard box, Holme challenged, and the ball fell to Jake Boutell who slammed it into the back of the net.

Old Cock: Mark Greenwood, Tom Waldron, Danny Simpson, Lee Walsh, Martin Holme, Matt Derrig, Rick Power, Tom Quinn, Joe Derrig, Rob Holden, Jake Boutell.

Gardeners: Steve O’Neill, Mike Rothwell, John Millward, Dave Goodier, Matt Lockett, Mark Nield, Jon Burton, Dean Byrne, John Allott, Antony Burton, Lenny Wilcock, sub Niall McCluskey.