09/12/07 Cougars U10 2 v Oxshott Royals 1

For the 2^nd week running the game started with pouring rain and to make matters worse, a scouting party headed by Will & Paul was needed to locate much needed caffeine…. fortunately a Starbucks wasn’t too far away!!!

After that initial panic, I was able to start concentrating on the game…..

The 1^st half was very much a half of missed opportunities with Sam, Michael, Alfie, Matt, Harry and Rory all having shots at goal…..

The 2^nd half started with the score line equal at 0 – 0 but a run against play by Oxshott and a good finish by the attacking striker broke the dead lock and Oxshott took an early advantage… 0 – 1….

Cougars kept up the pressure with Matt, Rory and Max ensuring any ball put into the Cougars half was promptly cleared from danger….

Alfie picks up the ball, passes to Michael, who crosses to Bobby, keeper dives and keeps Oxshott’s slim advantage alive (for now!!!)….

Harry makes a run down the left and fires a high ball into Oxshott’s area… Sam is making a well time run and unless I’m mistaken, jumps 8 feet into the air and heads the ball over the keeper……..shouts of “that’s the best goal of the season, year, decade, century, millennium” are clearly head around the ground and fortunately captured within my match report for prosperity… score line now  1 – 1 …

The equaliser was quickly followed up by another run with Sam passing to Harry, who’s shot is almost knocked into the goal by an Oxshott defender, who redeems himself by clearing the ball off the line….

Cougars keep up the pressure, with Matthew clearing the ball with his foot, hand & head to Alfie, who passes to Sam, onto Michael down the right and seconds later into the back of the net… 2 – 1…

The final whistle blows and again the boys have come from behind (no comments) and celebrate another win….

Man of the Match: Rory 

02/12/07 Cougars U10  4 v Woking Boys 2

Looking to maintain recent form the U10’s welcomed Woking Boys to the home ground in West End and in typical fashion (and I’m sure to keep the parents blood pressure as high a possible)…. concede a goal within approx 2 minutes via a great chip over Max by the Woking Boys striker…. 0 – 1…

Cougars up the pace and the ball is knocked into the Woking Boys area by Harry and some how manages to be touched by every player in the box before Michael takes control and rolls the ball pass the keeper….  1 – 1….

Woking Boys kick off and thump a long ball into Cougars area…. Max our sure handed keeper bends down to collect it but with soaking gloves, the ball slips through his hands, through his legs and trickles over the line for an unlikely 2^nd Woking Boys goal… 1 – 2…. We shall never talk of this goal again!!!

The 2^nd half starts with Sam making a run down the middle, passes one defender and smacks the ball into the goal to bring the score line level once again…2 – 2…

This is promptly followed by a great move, with Harry too Alfie, who knocks the ball up field to Sam, who crosses to Michael, who half volley’s the ball over the diving keeper into the back of the net….. 3 – 2…

The game was coming to a close when Rory hit a long pass up field, Harry crosses into the area and the keeper punches clear, but only as far as Sam, who promptly smacks the ball into the back of the net…. 4 – 2…

Another superb fighting performance…. Well done!!!

Man of the Match: Michael

25/11/07 Cougars U10  4 v Abbey Rangers 1 – SPL Cup

Following the heroics of the previous game, confidence levels were restored in the U10 team and boy were Abbey Rangers gonna know it!!!  The game started with equal play, with both teams having shots on goal, which Max the trusty keeper easily dealt with….

Cougars create an early attack, with Michael knocking the ball to Bobby who makes a great run down the right and confidently bangs the ball into the left hand corner of Abbey’s goal ……. 1 – 0….

Abbey up the pressure down the right wing, only to be denied by Matthew who clears the ball back into Abbey’s half but a long ball in and Cougars concede a corner….   The ball knocked into Cougars area, Abbey shoot with Rory heading the ball off the line…… 2^nd shot comes in and the score line is equal at 1 – 1….

Clearly not happy with an equal score line, Matthew makes a great run up field, moving from right back defender to left striker….. Rory wondered what Matthew was doing in his position!!!   Michael picks up the ball…. Shoots….keeper dives late and Cougars celebrate their 2^nd goal… 2 – 1…

To end the 1^st half Abbey make another run at the Cougars defence… a good shot is hit but Max punches the ball clear and for good measure Matthew hoofs the ball back up field….

2nd half starts with great passing between Harry, Michael and Alfie, who passes to Sam….. Sam nut megs the defender (clearly planned) and places the ball pass the keeper into the back of the net…. 3 – 1….

Cougars don’t let Abbey back in the game and Abbey concede a corner….Michael crosses the ball into Abbey’s area……..cleared but only as far as Sam who shoots and claims his 2^nd game of the match…. 4 – 1….

Great game and the boys are back too their best!!!            

 Man of the Match – Rory & Matthew     

04/11/07  Cougars U10  5  v  Cove Youth 4

The Cougars U10 were so far behind Cove Youth at half time (4 – 1) that I stopped writing the report…… I’ve should of known better as the boys were just playing themselves into the game and with a barrage of goals from Bobby (2), Michael (2) and Alfie (1) a 4 – 1 deficit was turned into a 5 – 4  victory!!!

The season is about to start for the Cougars U10’s….

Man of the Match – After that the whole team