Buntingford Cougars

2 days ago

Cougars U11s Royals vs Melbourn Dynamos, Sunday 13th October, Away

Baker, Bliss, Cooper, Durr, Gower, Kantas, Leonard-Batten, Malyon, Martin, Parker, Sampson, Woolhead

The Royals won a notable victory before a ball was even kicked today by managing to get a game on at all. The Edwinstree pitch was sodden so some quick negotiations by our fixtures supremo managed to get the game switched to Melbourn who must be thanked for accommodating us at short notice. Despite continuing downpours of quite biblical proportions that left me half expecting to see the animals marching in two by two as we arrived, the pitch was playable and the spectators huddled beneath whatever shelter they could find. Game on!

The first half saw the Royals showcasing the best attacking football of their season so far with Baker making some promising forages down the rights. At the back Durr continued his excellent recent form in goal making several great reaction saves, including one particularly notable double stop during a furious goalmouth melee. Leonard-Batten was rampaging repeatedly down the left and hit the post with a fine effort that almost brought the Royals first goal of the season.

There were some impressive forwards on display from Melbourn and their finishing was clinical but the scoreline wasn’t a fair representation of the play. Gower did very well at right back with some calm defending and inventive clearances. Sampson dominated at centre back with plenty of composed play under pressure, reminding some in the crowd of a young Steph Houghton. Parker at left back made a series of hefty kicks to move the team up the pitch and Kantas and Woolhead both putting fantastic shifts on the wings. Martin was very lively in a display full of tigerish tackling and well timed interceptions while Bliss and Cooper combined well in the attacking third, fashioning a number of corners as the game progressed.

Player of the match this week went to Malyon for a superb performance both sitting in front of the back four and later dropping into a defensive berth himself. Tackling, passing and closing down were all key features of his display.

In addition, Mr Baker put in a solid shift running the line with calm authority and his flag work was exemplary throughout.

At the final whistle it had been a cold and wet Sunday lunchtime for the spectators but the determination and skill on display from the Royals more than made up for the weather and if they keep on performing to this level, that first goal won’t be long in coming. Enjoy a well earned Sunday roast everyone and we go again next week ! ... See MoreSee Less

Buntingford Cougars

3 days ago

Cougars U11s Whites vs Hertford Town Harts Saturday 12 October Away

Demonte, Deeks, Benton, White, Brown, Dawson, Cole, Scott, Roskilly, Eastwood, Bullock

Playing on a lush pitch that was the opposite of the slick MUGA training ground, there was no wind, but the rain was unrelenting - might the Whites get bogged down?

Early forays from either side, with Whites - again looking good in the away kit – exerting more pressure than Hertford that brought corners, goal action, but no shots till Roskilly hit a long range effort that flew wide to the right. Running down the left flank from Scott, Deeks and Roskilly increased the pressure on Hertford, then an archetypal Eastwood charge through the middle yielded a corner which Roskilly took, leading to an Eastwood shot over the bar. Hertford responded with their own corner after 7 minutes, but nobody could get anything on it.

Some end-to-end play with Bullock joining in on the right side with one cross that looked like it might go in the goal, and then an offside flag halting another Whites attack. The Hertford goalie wasn’t looking too confident and was once caught out of his area but still no goal for Whites. Then after 19 minutes from a corner Deeks took control of the ball on the edge of the box and drove it low to the left of the Hertford keeper.

Hertford were still making breaks of their own, and even earned a free kick but the Scott, Demonte, Cole defence were working hard to snuffle out their attacks. The first time Hertford got past the Whites defence Benton was up to the challenge and the shot went wide.

Whites wanted another goal: a Bullock shot missed to the left; a Brown shot and Roskilly follow up just couldn’t get past the keeper, White gained the ball in midfield to put Brown through but his shot was over the bar; White again won the ball, Roskilly passed expertly across from the left but Brown couldn’t get to it. Then seemingly from nowhere Bullock belted a long range effort past the Hertford keeper.

Just before half time an Eastwood shot gave the Whites another deserved goal.

The second half saw Whites turn the screw. As ever they were keen to score and get the ball back to score more. The only danger was of individuals being too selfish. But that didn’t happen too often. Indeed Eastwood put himself into a shooting position, but then laid it off to Scott who was in an even better position, and Scott calmly put it away.

Another Eastwood pass this time to Brown who ran into the box and inside his defender to shoot off the outside of his right boot only to see it spin off the post but across goal. A great charge from Cole, passing onto Eastwood, in turn passing onto Brown to set him up for his first goal. From the kick off, the Whites regained the ball immediately, leading to Eastwood shooting home from the right side, firing the ball across the keeper inside the left post.

Soon another attack and Roskilly seemed certain to score but … no, it looked like it wasn’t going to be his day. The Whites kept attacking, this time Dawson steaming forward, combining with Eastwood to set up Roskilly who took it on his right foot, neatly shifted to his left and left the keeper no chance with the shot.

A Roskilly corner had the ball bobbling around in the area, and Eastwood put it away. MThen White slotted home. As the game came to a close another Roskilly corner, again the ball bobbling around and Brown finished it off … with this knee.

It was impressive throughout the game that the fullbacks and wingers were not only defending but all taking the ball forward, trying to make their passes and setting up the attacks down the flanks - the tireless Deeks, Bullock, Cole and Dawson. White’s midfield ball-winning and distribution were invaluable. And even more so, as Hertford kept up the attacks but they were rarely going to prevail against the ever excellent Benton in goal and the bedrock of the defence, Demonte, who is man of the match for his reading of the game, timing of tackle and positioning.

Well played both teams. ... See MoreSee Less