Cougars Under 9’s Blues began 2017 with a trip to Baldock Templars, with whom they had already had two extremely close games this season. Cougars started well but went behind against the run of play mid-way through the first half. However what followed was a scintillating display of team work and slick passing on a tricky pitch. Oscar Kay went close and Rylee Kitteringham went even closer from a Fraser Finlay cross. Minutes before the break great link up play, not for the first or last time in the game, between Dan Fone and Kitteringham led to the equaliser as Kitteringham steered home.
After the break Cougars went through the gears and produced a stunning second half performance. Kitteringham danced his way down the left wing from half way, cut in to the box and fired in a great cross which the defender could only deflect into his own net. Wave after wave of attack followed with Adam Sleath playing in Miles Woolford, who went close, before another free flowing move led to Kitteringham firing home for his second and Cougars third. A fourth followed shortly when great link up play led to Kitteringham feeding in Oscar Kay, who continued his rich vein of scoring by firing left footed into the roof of the net. Baldock certainly didn’t lay down and pulled one back and but for a great save from Lui LoConte could have pulled back to within one. There was still time for a couple of smart Fone passes to allow Kitteringham to go close again and then hit the post.
The game ended in a 4-2 win but what was most impressive was the slick passing from back to front. The defence was again rock solid where Fraser Finlay marshalled his fellow troops Bear Wennington, Finlay Wood, Ben Lewis and Adam Sleath. Man of the matches went to Rylee Kitteringham , who was involved in all four goals and Fraser Finlay for his commanding all-round performance.
