Cougars Under 8’s Whites got the new season off to a flying start with plenty of goals, great saves, loads of energy and a really accomplished team effort at home to Morden Magpies. The player of the match award went to debutant Ronnie Hennessy, for his outstanding box to box performance.
Johnny Nicholas opened Whites’ account scoring smartly after a great through ball from Thomas Deane before Joseph DeMonte scored from what seemed an impossible angle. Shortly afterwards Deane was in the right place at the right time to score after great work from Hennessy. In the second half Hennessy carried the ball from the halfway line to get his own name on the score sheet too. The match was notable for the Buntingford’s snappy passing game, tireless running and solid tackles. Keeper duties were shared between Sam Dawson, Johnny Nicholas and Thomas Deane and all three of them made good saves, often showing a lot of courage rushing off their line to save at their opponents’ feet.
Finlay Tanner and Jack Nicholas carried on where they left off last season with tackles and runs galore. On any other day Sam Dawson could have had a hat trick, instead the Morden goalie performed heroics to deny Dawson a deserved goal.
Coach Rod Tanner was pleased, telling the BBCs five live podcast “All in all a great game for Cougars to start the season”
