On a windy Saturday morning last week Cougars Under8’s Royals the Royals gathered to face Bishop Stortford Hoops. Royals Gaffer Mark Bliss set out some targets for each of the players to achieve and all the boys seemed up for the challenge.
Despite the weather conditions, the pace of the game was high and the Royals managed to put some good runs forward. Archie Beattie made a number of excellent saves in goal and was also skillful at throwing the ball out to a Royals player to keep the pressure up. One particular throw found the feet of Alfie Perryman who made a solo run forward and took a shot, which just went wide.
Henry McAllister stood strong in defence despite the ball being played mostly in his half, he frequently took the ball from the opposition and made a number of well passes to Ben Gower and to Ryan Gasson.
The Royals almost made it onto the score sheet when Gasson ran down the wing with the ball, made an excellent pass to Perryman who again took a shot at the goal, this time it hit the target, but the opposition’s goalkeeper was too strong.
Alfie Perryman worked tirelessly during the first half making solo run after solo run forward, but sadly the defence was too strong.
During the second half William Brown, Kyson Mann and Alfie Perryman worked the ball well in the midfield but the highlight of the half had to be an excellent penalty save from Ben Gower, who had switched into goal. The opposition player hit the ball hard and directly towards goal, but Ben Gower made a first class save and that earned him player of the Match.
