Finals dream kept alive for Cobram Roar men, while women fight out draw

By Contributed

Jul 15, 2024

Cobram Roar women’s co-vice-captain Em Ryan kicks long down the field.

Division one men

Cobram took to the field against fourth-placed Melrose for another must-win game in terms of their finals aspirations.

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Coach Bill Puckett made two changes from the previous week, with Jack Dovey, returning from his honeymoon, replacing Nathan Thomas in central defence, and Puckett replacing Riley Denny in midfield.

The opening 30 minutes was tight with both defences on top and neither team able to find any momentum in their attacking areas of the pitch.

Cobram made a couple of tactical changes, defending higher up the pitch and encouraging the full backs to push forward at any opportunity.

This paid immediate dividends, with Jackson Tasso unlucky to see a tremendous shot from 25 yards come back off the bar. Shortly after, Kieran O’Donnell got on the end of a good cross from Toby Wane to steer the ball into the corner of the net.

This opened the game up, with Melrose attempting to commit more players forward. It was Cobram, however, that came closest to scoring again as O’Donnell struck the post from the edge of the area with the Melrose keeper well beaten.

The second half commenced with Cobram playing with higher intensity. Martin Louchet and Jordan Nankerville were pushing on more and causing all sorts of problems in wide areas for Melrose.

Melrose remained a danger though on the break, although any opportunity it did manage to create was dealt with by the Cobram defence or Jake Keating in goal.

With 20 minutes of the second half gone, Cobram doubled its lead after fine play from O’Donnell and Wane released Jake Kalz into the box. Kalz took a great touch and fired an unstoppable shot into the far corner of the net.

Shortly after, a good passing move involving Puckett and Tasso released Louchet on the right wing. His ball into the box was fired home by O’Donnell for his second of the game and Cobram’s third.

Jake Keating was called into action to make a smart save when the Melrose striker found himself clean through on goal.

Cobram then scored the goal of the game.

It began with Keating playing the ball out to Nankerville in the left back area.

A fine pass saw the ball go through midfield to Puckett on the right side, before a weighted ball released the overlapping Louchet. He delivered a perfect ball into the box to Wane, who fired the ball into the corner of the net.

Cobram played out the rest of the game comfortably for a 4-0 win. This was another good victory and solid performance heading into this week’s clash at league leader Myrtleford.

Division One Women

Senior Roarettes took on top-of-the-table Melrose FC at Apex Reserve and it was an absolute blockbuster.

With Roar missing four players to the squad there were a lot of positives for the ladies in an extremely physical and fast-paced game.

Co-vice-captain Em Ryan proved to everyone why she is the best goalkeeper in the women’s competition, making absolutely ridiculous saves to stop Melrose from scoring and to give her team every chance to keep fighting to try to convert.

Although the ladies didn’t win, the 0-0 draw was a great result given the last time the two sides met in round two, Cobram lost 2-1.

The result didn’t come without concern, however, as star attacker Jess Gannaway sustained a knee injury.

Cobram FC 0-0 Melrose FC