Cobram’s soccer seniors fail to secure a win over the weekend

Cobram’s senior men’s team played at home against the Wodonga Diamonds but fell 4-5.

Round five of the Albury Wodonga Football Association saw the return of captain Jack Dovey who made the most of his return to the starting line-up, scoring two goals.

Not to be outshone, fellow Cobram teammate Kieran O’Donnell also found the back of the net twice.

However, another two or three chances to score sadly failed to materialise for the Cobram team.

And in a brutal case of opportunities lost is opportunities gained for the opposition, and Wodonga Diamonds seized on the failings of the Cobram team.

Giving the guests opportunities didn’t assist the home side, as the Wodonga Diamonds managed to finish the game one goal ahead of their rivals.

Cobram’s senior coach, Bill Puckett, said there were both positives and negatives to take from the game.

“Obviously bitterly disappointed that we lost first and foremost,” he said.

“However, in both halves, we scored within the first 10 minutes, which was our plan."

Mr Puckett said that taking the lead in both halves of round five was the first time it had happened in the 2024 season, and the team will work on its defence and not allow the opposition to capitalise on its mistakes.

In the case of an almost ugly repeat, the Cobram senior’s female team also fell against Wodonga Diamonds 2-3.

The game seemed cursed for the Cobram ladies, with key players unavailable and two early injuries sustained by Luana Mete and Frankie Zuccarello.

Wodonga took an early lead, though Cobram hit back hard.

A corner delivered in by Cobram’s Alyssa Iannucci was finished by Zuccarello, who hit the back of the net.

Wodonga scored a late goal in the first half, ensuring the Cobram ladies entered the second half trailing 2-1.

The second half saw Cobram have a lot more control of the game.

Ella Janssens and Sienna Hutchinson as well as Lucy Wilkins proved to be getting their heads around Division One speed and physicality.

Laura Moras, in defence, proved a stand-out, keeping the game alive for Cobram.

A controversial turnover saw Wodonga counter-attack and score.

Though the Cobram ladies’ linesman thought the ball was out of play, the centre referee overturned the decision and said the game was played on, and the goal stood.

Cobram’s Iannucci scored another goal to bring Cobram to try and revive the team’s chances, but it wasn’t to be, with Wodonga finishing victorious.

Round five saw the Cobram’s seniors women’s team welcome two new debutants, Theodora Miaoudis and Meg Poole, who both acquitted themselves well on the pitch.

The Cobram teams will face the Twin City Wanderers in round six.