Cobham Sports returned from the Island with the three Dorset Premier Football League points on Saturday courtesy of a fine 7-1 win to maintain their pursuit on the league leaders.

Cobham were quickly out of the blocks with Dan Brown testing Portland custodian Alfie Watts from distance in the third minute, but his firm shot was straight at him and then just two minutes later Mike Trim won a header from a corner that just flew over the bar.

Cobham weren’t allowing Portland to settle, and they took the lead in the 10th minute, Aldo Bertorelli played a lovely ball into the box catching the home defence square and JOSH BUCK was too quick for the keeper and defender, and he slotted the ball into the corner.

Cobham were in control and Buck brought another save out of Watts in the 13th minute and the pressure began to tell when they increased their lead in the 16th minute, a ball was played into the box and Kingsley Eze-Sunday made a real nuisance of himself to the Portland defence and the loose ball was struck home by ALDO BERTORELLI giving Watts no chance.

Cobham maintained their control of the game and Buck saw another shot from distance in the 26th minute but it was straight at Watts, he was at it again ten minutes later, this time his shot on the run brought a really good diving save from Watts and the teams went to the break with Cobham holding a two-goal advantage over the Islanders.

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Cobham started slowly in the second half, giving too much ball away in the midfield just inside their own half and the dangerous Josh Camp had two attempts at goal, the first in the 52nd minute but he was just too high and just three minutes later he headed fractionally over from a corner on the right.

Cobham went to the bench and began to settle into their rhythm again and five minutes into his introduction, in the 60th minute, MARCO FOWLER headed home a fine goal from Dan Brown’s pinpoint free kick to put Cobham three up, three minutes later Alex Borges broke up a Portland move and his challenge saw the ball breach the square Portland back line and JOSH BUCK was free and rounded the keeper to slot home number four from an acute angle.

Cobham introduced Charlie Harries and Adam Priestley in the 65th minute as Cobham were having their best spell of the game, CHARLIE HARRIES did so well in the 72nd minute when played in by Fowler, he appeared to be fouled by the keeper but he still managed to hook the ball into the net from a prostrate position making it 5-0 and then, just a minute later, he was put in down the left and hit a cracking drive which Watts superbly pushed round the post.

It was all Cobham now and they increased their lead further in the 76th minute, DAN BROWN scoring direct from a corner and just a minute later, Mike Trim found MARCO FOWLER in space just outside of the box and his shot made it seven going into the net via the far post.

Cobham’s finish to the game became a little scrappy and Portland applied some pressure and were rewarded with a goal from the spot in the 90+2nd minute, their standout player JOSH CAMP converting after a clumsy challenge from Mike Trim

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