Buntingford Cougars Under 10’s Blues entertained The Bury crowds with a great match against Stevenage Boro Tornadoes. It was the visitors who struck first as Cougars looked as though they were still in bed and a slick move saw Tornadoes squeeze a shot inside the near post. However Cougars soon got their act together and after ten minutes Charlie Fountain scored a great goal after a team move starting from Luke Goodchild at the back. The second half saw Cougars go 2-1 ahead after Nathan Anderson started a move deep within his own half that Jack Gurney finished low into the corner. With ten minutes remaining Tornadoes found the equalizer to make it two apiece.
Cougars Under10’s Whites then played a determined Tornadoes side in a competitive encounter. Archie Vass-Smart was unlucky not to score after several shots by the busy midfielder came close to compliment close attempts made by man of the match Josh Lucas and Jimmy Brown. Debutant Edward Green played well and Evan Howard had probably his best match of the season.
Buntingford Cougars Under 8’s started slowly as they went three down in the first half before man of the match Orran ‘Ozza’ Taylor started the comeback with his first Cougars goal. His strike was the catalyst to Buntingford going ahead to lead 4-3 before they were pegged back to a final score of four apiece.
Cougars Under 14’s hosted a strong Wodson Park side in the league with both sides level on points before the encounter. The visitors from down the A10 started the brighter and pressurised the Cougars back line but the home side’s defensive efforts held firm and restricted the visitors to shots from distance. As the half wore on Cougars started to become calmer in possession and worked the ball wide creating some good chances. Mid way through the half Sid Arnold from the edge of the box let fly with his trusty left foot and struck the underside of the bar. The resilient Cougars built on this and just before half time with little options around him Matt Share took off on a mazy run into the box beating three players before squaring to the penalty spot where Matt Adams under pressure from defenders found the bottom corner with a composed finish. With Cougars on the up the half time whistle came too soon for the home side.
The second half started and neither side were penetrating the oppositions back lines until after probably the most bizarre five minutes of the under14’s season as firstly a converted penalty by Wodson squared the match and then the most unfortunate and freaky own goal ably assisted by the wind and the sun put the visitors 2-1 before another penalty saw Cougars equalize courtesy of Matt Share with a confident spot kick.
After a tight affair the last fifteen minutes became an open affair with both sides having opportunities to win including Sid Arnold who was denied by a match winning goal with a last ditch block by the Wodson who in turn hit the Cougars post at the death.
Cougars Under14’s Manager Chris Adams in his post match conference said “Our opposition came at us really strong today and I was pleased in the way we worked this out and imposed our football into the match, having gone behind we regrouped and got ourselves back in it. On chances it was probably a fair point. Cougars Under14’s man of the match was the strong and calm Dan Curtis.”
Cougars Under11’s played away to Hatfield Youth in what was a tight affair in the first half with only one goal from Luke Ranner and some great defending from Sonnie Wennington and Thomas Arrundale. The second half saw the introduction of Jack Piggott who didn’t waste any time to get on the score sheet for Cougars second. Some more great defending saw Cougars Under11’s able to push forward and force Hatfield into an own goal. After the restart with some superb individual skill Jack Piggott took it around the keeper to make it 4-0. Cougars Under11’s man of the match was Patrick Cahill for a great defensive performance.
Elsewhere Cougars Under 12’s Blues won 3-1 against Stortford Rovers whilst the Under 12’s Whites drew 2-2 away to Barmond. Travelling to Manuden Juniors Cougars Under15’s Whites secured another victory this time 3-1 in their quest for a top four finish whereas Cougars Under16’s lost by a single goal to Melbourn.
