Cougars Weekly Round Up
Buntingford’s Under 11’s played Lea Sports in the quarter final of the league cup. The Hitchin based opposition put a lot of pressure on in the first 10 minutes and Cougars would have been a goal down but for a great clearance off the line by Thomas Arrundale. Some great team work saw the Cougars finish the first half 2-0. The second half saw Jack Piggott get his hat trick with Luke Ranner also on the score sheet. Cougars’ man of the match went to Oliver Garratt in what Cougars Under 11’s Manager Paul Skinner described as “A great team display and a well deserved victory against a team two divisions higher than us.”
Buntingford Cougars under 8’s Blues had an exciting game against Bishops Stortford with defences having the upper hand early on before Cougars made the breakthrough with a Finlay Walker goal. The lively Walker scored a rebound from his own left foot volley. In the second half there were two goals; one for Cougars, courtesy of an own goal and one for Billy Pullen of Stortford. Cougars battled hard to hold on for the win with outstanding defending from Freddie Arnold, Orran Taylor and Joseph McKinley as well as a solid goalkeeping display from Luca Rigolli. According to Buntingford’s Manager Danny Skipp “The deserved victory capped off a great team performance”.
Cougars Under8’s Whites played Bishop Stortford FC away and put in a determined performance but came away defeated but not downhearted. Oliver Hay had a great game and goalkeeper Oscar Kennedy was brilliant with a man of the match display. Cougars under 8’s Whites boss Paul Eveleigh was pleased with the performance commenting “You will rarely see a more enthusiastic and hard working bunch of young players. They are a great example of community grassroots footballers.”
Cougars Under10’s also at Stortford played out two good matches. Cougars Blues were deserved winners as Hayden Walley opened the scoring with a strike from close range albeit from a tight angle. Before the interval Jack Gurney added a second after some fine passing. In the second half Stortford clawed a goal back before man of the match Nathan Anderson thundered in a third from a narrow angle. BSFC pulled a second goal back to make a tense end but the game finished 3-2 to Cougars. Manager Dean Howard said “the players did what we encouraged them to do – so it was good to see them earn a win with a great team display”.
Cougars Under10’s Whites put in a determined display but were unable to overcome a good Stortford Wanderers. Man of the match Jimmy Brown worked tirelessly and there were lots of signs of positive development for Cougars Whites.
Cougar’s Under12’s Whites secured a good two nil league win over FC Comets and Cougars Under 15’s Blues continued their assault on the league title with a 6-1 away win at bottom side Royston Town Youth whilst their counterparts the Under 15 Whites, despite scoring twice endured a defeat against second placed Stortford Swifts.