Wessex Division One: Colden Common comeback from behind to beat Cove

Colden Common strengthened their grip at the top of Wessex Division One with a 3–1 comeback win over play-off hopefuls Cove.

Cove took the lead when Ash Upson met Armani Riley’s corner with a towering header at the back post.

They nearly doubled their lead soon after. Noah Ayres fired a low effort past James Egeland-Jensen but the flag was raised for offside, before Will Okine-Peters came within inches of making it two, his powerful header crashing against the crossbar from close range.

But the Stallions responded almost immediately. Just two minutes after Okine-Peters’ effort rattled the woodwork, Colden Common broke quickly on the counter. Brad Lethbridge picked out new signing Joe Johnson, who showed great composure to lob goalkeeper Stuart Norman and score his first goal for the club.

Colden Common pushed for a second before the break. Cal Archer saw his header strike the post, while Charlie Hitchings and Will Erdinc both tried their luck from distance but failed to test Norman.

Cove threatened again early in the second half. Okine-Peters found Charlie Oakley on the right, but he could only fire wide, before Higgs’ deflected strike forced a superb save from Egeland-Jensen after the ball deflected off Cam Stone.

Those missed chances proved costly. Hitchings soon picked out Sam Woodward in acres of space and the forward made no mistake, curling a composed finish into the bottom corner to give Colden Common the lead. The goal marked Woodward’s sixth in just seven appearances for the club.

Cove’s afternoon then took another turn for the worse when striker Kay Hampson was shown a straight red card following a challenge on Stone, reducing the Wasps to ten men.

Colden Common capitalised late on, adding a third through Stone after a well-worked move.

The hosts could even have added a fourth, with Woodward denied by a fine save before Johnson fired wide.

After the match, manager Steve King praised his side’s second-half display.

“I thought we controlled the second half and got the goals we deserved against a fellow promotion chaser,” he said.

 “The sending off didn’t change the game, we kept moving the ball quickly and I’m really pleased with the third goal.”

Colden Common are next in action with a trip to Miller Park, where they face strugglers Totton & Eling.