U9 Cougars take the trophy - with an all round team performance

16 May 2010

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Cougars had been looking forward to this game for some time now, so it was great to actually get it on. Trafford FC’s pitch was in excellent condition and the weather was good for football.

Cougars had a full squad for this game and they were all up for it. Their starting line up of Martin, Ben, Luke, Freddie, Neeki, Will and Harry started strongly from the kick off against a very strong Lymm side. Although Cougars had most of the early position it was Lymm who had the first real chance, their number seven who went on to create problems all through the match had a good shot, which Ben blocked only for it to drop to their centre forward, he tried an audacious chip from five yards which just skimmed the bar. Cougars hit back with a shot come cross from Will, Freddie was an eye lash away from converting it. Cougars finally broke the dead lock with the best play of the third, Neeki picked up a loose ball beat his man and passed a well weighted ball to Will down the left, Will let it run across him took one touch and smashed it into the top corner. The only other chance of this third fell to Freddie who stretched to get his head onto a cross from Will, which again was just too far in front of him.

Wilmslow Town Cougars U9s 1 Lymm Rovers Bandits U9 0

The second third stated with the Cougars bringing Charlie, Olivia and Joe on. They conceded an early free kick on the edge of the box, Lymm played a well rehearsed free kick which caught the Cougars napping, Lymm played the ball square instead of the shot that the Cougars expected, the Bandits number seven hit a fabulous shot that was screaming into the top corner, Will dived to his right and made a world class save, or it would have been if he was the goalkeeper, PENALTY.  Lymm scored from the spot with the Lymm player giving Martin (our real goalkeeper) no chance what so ever. Cougars did step their game up and Neeki, Will and Charlie all had half chances. Cougars were desperately unlucky not to reclaim their lead near the end when a long goal kick bounced through to Will who tried to direct a looping header past the keeper, only to see him make an excellent save to his right. From the resulting corner Ben dropped it with pace to the back of the penalty area, Neeki rose like a salmon to head a near perfect header which hit the inside of the keepers left hand post, after a goal mouth scramble Lymm unbelievably got it to safety.

Wilmslow Town Cougars U9s 1 Lymm Rovers Bandits U9 1

The last third was a very close with Cougars playing the better football of the two, Olivia carried the game to Lymm chasing down every loose ball and not allowing Lymm players any time on the ball. Cougars won a free kick on the edge of the box which Will hit over the bar.  Martin made a number of saves from speculative shots. With the midfield battle raging Charlie did what he does best winning the ball and finding one of his team mates in space, Olivia played the ball diagonally to Will who shrugged off the attentions of a Lymm defender and hit a sweet shot past the Lymm keeper to make it 2-1. Wilmslow were on top now and could have extended their lead when Olivia beat one man faked the shot and finally placed the ball inches (cm for all the young readers) past the wrong side of the post. With the game time running out Lymm were pushing hard for an equaliser and their number seven for once got behind the Cougars excellent defence leaving him one on one with the Keeper, Martin did everything right stood tall advanced quickly and pushed he ball out for a corner. From this corner he went one better saving a well struck shot that looked destined for the net with his feet to keep the Cougars slim lead. With seconds left Joe tried to score from his own half as the Bandit’s keeper sprinted back to his empty net. The ref put the Wilmslow crowd and managers out of their misery by blowing the final whistle soon after.

Wilmslow Town Cougars U9s 2 Lymm Rovers Bandits U9 1

Well done the Cougars you have been great all season Wilmslow Town can and should be proud of you but not as proud as Neil and I.

MOTM – this accolade was picked by the Lymm manager and I can only agree with him Olivia Dixon played with a real passion and was very unlucky not to score.

Source: P Jones

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