Walker and Grinyer Keeps Cougars Smiling
Cougars Under9’s faced Shefford Saints at The Bury enjoyed two great games, both decided by a single goal. Cougars Blues played out a nine goal thriller in which Finlay Walker bagged a brace, a double also was enjoyed by Spencer Sendall and Joseph McKinley chipped in with a goal too. Walker also scooped the man of the match award along with his 38th goal of the season.
Buntingford’s Under9’s Whites put in another determined performance also against Shefford Whites and enjoyed a brilliant game with Mike Cannel netting his first goal for cougars. The hard working Carrie Grinyer took home the player of the match award.
Meanwhile Tom Curtis’ Cougars Under7’s played one of the performances of the season with Austen Arrowheads. Cougars Under7s Royals were up first and started well with Jamie Coote scoring a quick first goal. Luke Ross was having a great game winning tackles all over the park, he came close to scoring before setting Coote up for his second before he bagged his hat trick with a third before Ross scored a deserved goal. Tj Curtis in the Royals goal was rarely troubled mainly due to the assured performance of Alfie Vottariello at the back. After the break Tyler Jordan was between the stick playing well and the whole team were communicating well as the game got very even. Arrowheads pulled a goal back before Curtis – now out on pitch – produced some impressive fancy footwork to score before the end of the game. Man of the Match for Cougars Royals was Jamie Coote.
Cougars Under7s Stripes also faces Arrowheads and started well with Ronan McGuire and Henry Turner working well together promoting a great passing ethic throughout the whole team. Tyler Jordan was playing well in goal as was Turner who’s tenacious runs troubled the opposition before Turner scored the first goal and then sends an audacious chip over the keeper for a second goal before going onto scoring a third and fourth. Following the interval Aiden Broci started to have a great influence on the game and helps Turner score another couple of goal and scoop the man of the match award.
Cougars lined up on Sunday against Steeple Morden for what was always going to be a close match, Cougars are on a good run of results and therefore confidence was high but Morden have been a bit of a bogey team this season. The match started in drizzly conditions but it soon dried out and the umbrellas came down on the touchline. Both teams were playing well but very few chances were being created with neither team being able to find the break through, good defending was the order of the day with most attacks being cleared or the attacker shepherded out of play. Long range efforts were dealt with calmly by Tom Betley in goal and Noah Gibson and Jack Hedge looking solid at the back. Ben Perryman came on midway through the first half taking up his now familiar position out wide on the right and started to cause issues for the Morden defence with his pace, creating chances for Thomas Norris up front. Despite all of the energy clear cut chances were very limited and as we headed towards half time all eyes were on the coaches to see what tactical masterclass they would devise to make the difference in the second half.
As the team trotted out for the start of the second half it was clear the coaches had got their heads together, Ollie Baker and Fred Bentley came off the bench and Noah Gibson had been pushed into midfield. It was clear from the first whistle this change had really made a difference and now Cougars were getting chance after chance. Rocco Douglas had a great chance that went just past the post early on and then Cougars had a series of corners that never dropped in quite the right place for anyone to get a good strike on goal. It looked like the game was going to run out as a draw when an attacking move through the centre of the Morden defence came to Noah Gibson on the edge of the box, a great touch to get the ball under control and then a shot of pin point accuracy rattled the woodwork and nestled in the back of the net , 1 nil to the Cougars.
This spurred Morden into action and they started to come forward and put some pressure on the Cougars goal, other than one corner that floated across the goal with no one making any contact, the game was seen out and a good away win was great reward for a very solid team performance. With so many managers and coaches on the Cougar touchline Sky were not sure who would be making the post match comment but in the end Danny Miles pushed his way through the crowd and to the microphone to claim all the glory for the half time tactical changes that turned the game on Cougars favour.