The new season starts here - U10 Cougars bring pre-season form to their first friendly of 2011/12

10 September 2011

A late phone call from Cheadle & Gatley coach was well received by the Cougar's management, however, you could hear the groans from the parents as their last free Saturday of 2011 was snatched from their grasp.

Jim Evison Fields is the new home for the Cougars and the fixture gave the players and parents the first taste of their new surroundings. There was a degree of expectation in the crowd to see if the Cougars could take their fine pre-season form into the new season.

Match 1

From the kick off the Cougars looked sharp. Stone, in goals, was on top form from the start. His quick distribution allowed the Cougars to launch attack after attack with some fine passing play from back to front.

A great move involving Stone, Lovatt and Ford resulted in Ford firing just wide from outside the box. In a similar move a few moments later it was Lovatt who went close from long range. The fine midfield play soon paid dividends when another quick passing attack found Gozem on the edge of the box; a lovely first touch and measured pass found Mail in the area. Mail took the pass in his stride and fired home........1-0.

The Cougars had found the pace of the game and continued to press the Gatley defence. From a corner kick Livingston whipped in an excellent cross; Bundred timed his run to perfection and rose (like a salmon) to fire a fierce header into the roof of the net..........2-0.

Gatley then had their best spell of the half and stretched the Cougars defence to create a few chances of their own. A long Cougars pass ended up at the feet of the Gatley keeper who attempted to clear. The clearance was collected by Gozem well outside the box. Gozem looked up and fired one of his great "training ground" strikes,straight into the top corner.........3-0.

Match 2

Archer and Greensmith were added to midfield for the second match and were both involved in the match from the start. Some great play from Greensmith on the right hand side created an early chance for Mail. Mail who was now playing up front continued to link the play. Another measured pass from Greensmith found Mail just outside the box. Mail controlled; looked up and dropped a great pass into the path of the advancing Livingston who casually slotted the ball home.........4-0.

Mail was again involved in the build up. Another great pass found Greensmith who had run the length of the pitch to finish the move he started with a fine shot low into the right hand corner...........5-0.

The Cougars were now really finding their rythm and the passing and distribution was a joy to watch. On the left hand side Archer and Livingston were creating space with some great passing. Livingston found Archer wide on the right. Archer picked up the pass in full flight; looked up and slipped a great pass in front of Greensmith who again fired home from close range..........6-0.

Lovatt and Bundred continued to build the play from the back and the range of passing soon created another attacking opportunity. Bundred found Livingston who pinged in a great cross for Archer. Archer shaped to hit the cross first time on the volley but just mis-timed the strike. He quickly regained his composure and lofted a delicate chip over the advancing keeper to make the score 7-0.

Match 3

With Mail earning a well deserved break it was Gozem who was soon stretching the Gatley defence. Gozem collected the ball wide on the right, held off the defender to find Livingston who in turn dropped a lovely pass in front of the fast approaching Archer who tucked it away nicely to take the score to 8-0.

The Cougars kept to their passing play and created several more chances without success. Lovatt was now starting to find a bit of extra space in midfield and went close on several occasions with some fierce shots the last of which forced the Gatley keeper to tip over. From the corner Livingston and Lovatt combined with a move straight off the training ground. The measured pass from Livingston found the late run from Lovatt who again fired just wide.

Ford continued his pre-season form with some great wing play on the left and was unlucky not to get the break of the ball which would have provided a clear chance on goal.

Cheadle & Gatley then started to break up the play and launch some quick attacks of their own. Some great play on the right hand side resulted in a great cross which was fired low into the net from the edge of the box..........8-1. The goal gave Cheadle & Gatley the lift they needed and in a similar move down the right hand side another great strike from the edge of the box just beat the outstretched Stone in the Cougars goal.......8-2.

With Cheadle & Gatley now pressing and finishing the stonger of the two sides, the referee blew for full time.

Summary:

Thanks again to Cheadle & Gatley for arranging the game at short notice. There was some great play from both sides.

A great performance from the Cougars with a brilliant contribution from everyone. It was great to see so much of what we've been practising during the summer being produced in the game. Everything from the quick distribtion of Stone in goals. The composure and poise of Bundred and Lovatt. The passing and movement from Livingston, Archer, Ford and Greensmith and the link play up front from Gozem and Mail. It was great performance all round and sets the benchmark for the rest of the season.

A well deserved MoTM for Benjani who caught us all by surprise with his unselfish running and passing............ at last he has lost his snood and his tendency to try the "pasadobli" any time he gets the ball!

Source: David Livingston

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