Cougars Under 9’s Blues travelled to Saffron Walden to take on Spartak Reds. A slow start by the boys in blue saw Spartak take the lead with a fierce drive. However this only sought to galvanise Cougars who, after a few words from Whispering Coach Fone, equalised with Adam Sleath winning the ball in midfield, jinking past a defender and then hitting the top corner with powerful shot. Within thirty seconds Oscar Kay pounced in midfield to feed Dan Fone who calmly slotted past the Spartak keeper. Then a procession of goals followed, next off the ranks was Ben Lewis who rifled home a stinging drive after a crunching challenge and lay off from Fraser Findlay. Kay then turned on the style with a sublime left footed curler into the top corner before adding his second after the ever creative Fone had put him in after some fantastic free flowing football. Just before the break Fone chased down what looked a lost cause before threading a pass to Rylee Kitteringham, just out from between the sticks.
The second half couldn’t match the first as various formations were tried out. Spartak pulled one back when ‘Chopper’ Sleath conceded the first penalty of the season. However Cougars responded when Kay fed in Kitteringham for his second and Kay got his hat trick with a long range effort after a Lewis lay off. Great team performance which made man of the match a difficult choice but recognition to the boys at the back with Fraser Findlay and Finley Wood putting in great shifts, while Ben Lewis put in a whole hearted performance.
