Published: 1 December, 2011
by STEVE BARNETT

COBDEN Athletic caused a major shock in the Camden Sunday League at the weekend when they become the first team in almost two years to beat Phoenix.

Champions Phoenix could only field nine players and Cobden took full advantage as they stormed to a 4-0 victory.

A long throw from Lee O’Driscoll was flicked into the net by Jason Williams to give Cobden a narrow lead at the break.

Williams doubled the advantage just before the hour, before man-of-the-match Pat Jones put the result beyond doubt from the penalty spot.

After an own-goal completed the rout, Phoenix manager Dave Harber made it clear why his team suffered a rare defeat.

“We only had nine players and fair play to Cobden for taking advantage of that,” he said.  

“The players that did turn up did their best and tried to put a show on. It’s just a shame that certain players didn’t show up when they said they would.

“They never gave me a chance to find replacements and that cost us.”

Rivals Reddot took advantage of Phoenix’s defeat but only just. Goals from Liam Barnabie and Steven Bruce put them 2-0 up against DB FC but they couldn’t hold on to their lead as their opponents pulled it back to 2-2.

With time running out Alexie Nicolaou popped up to score the winner in a 3-2 thriller, a result that sent Reddot top of the table.

“The fact that Phoenix lost is great for the league, it keeps the title race all rather interesting,” said Reddot manager Micky Dowsett.