| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Paul Ellaby |
Posted - 09/10/2006 : 15:31:57
Saturday 16th September
Cougars 1 - Communities United 5
Rarely can a result have been a more misleading reflection of a game. Having dominated the opening 10 minutes of the game against Comuunities United, the Cougars fell behind to a breakaway goal. Undeterred, the Cougars continued to attack and won a succession of corners, but it was only in the last minute of the second period that they scored a deserved equaliser, Tom Morgan latching onto a Callum Francis throw-in just inside the box and volleying at waist height. The scene was set for deserved victory in the final period, but 10 minutes from the end Communities scored a second. From then on Communities dominated and scored a further 3 due to some shambolic home defending, as the home team threw men forward for an equaliser. Final score 1-5 and a clear message that we need to convert our chances when on top. Man of the match: Tom Morgan
Saturday 23rd September
Cougars 5 - Urmston Meadowside 0
Urmston Meadowside were the visitors, and this time the Cougars were the team scoring 4 in the last period. The Cougars got off to a positive start, with lots of posession and overall control of the game. It took 10 minutes before possession turned to advantage. A free kick near the half way was floated into the box and fell kindly to Daniel Ellaby a yard inside the area. He coolly drove the ball across the goal into the keeper's bottom righthand corner. Despite continued pressure, the Meads defence held firm until the final third when Kareem Germaine fired in from an acute angle. Buoyed by the confidence of a two goal margin, the Cougars started to play the kind of football that we know them to be capable of. David Hanley and the tireless Callum Francis were dominant in midfield and both chipped in with long range shots for the fourth and fifth goals. Goal of the game was the third scored by Tom Cox: a chip into the box was guided on beautifully by Callum Francis into ! the path of Tom who had darted into the box. He hit a low, first time shot across the keeper and into the bottom corner. Man of the match: Callum Francis.
Saturday 7th October
Cougars 7 - Lymm Rovers A 0
Lymm Rovers arrived having previously beaten us once and run us close in a series of friendlies last season. The game started ominously with early Lymm pressure and a cross-cum-shot that hit the cross bar and rebounded to safety. This appeared to spark the home team into action and David Hanley and Callum Francis again started to exert their influence in midfield, winning tackles and launching attacks. Daniel Ellaby, playing upfront, linked play well and again scored the game's first goal, lifting the ball above prone defenders and keeper after the Lymm defence failed to deal with a David Hanley cross on 5 minutes. A great tackle in defence from Joe Collins, who has quickly settled into his new team, followed by a surge up field quelled Lymm's immediate response and indirectly led to a goal for Joe, who drove in from the edge of the box. We knew from past experience that two goals against Lymm would not be enough and it was with some relief that we celebrated a thi! rd goal after the ref finally spotted a handball in the box (it was the third in quick succession!), David Hanley converting with an unstoppable drive into the top right hand corner- were you watching England!
The game stayed tight in the send period with Charlie Sands and Justin Betts combining well yet again at the back to give goalie Robert Gill a trouble free period. As the whistle approached, Callum Francis netted after a mix-up in the Lymm defence. As the players ran onto the pitch for the final period, Callum Francis's dad was heard to shout, "score another three" and the boys duly delivered. A goal of the season contender from Daniel Ellaby saw him dribble down the right past two defenders, turn another two inside out as he cut into the box before impudently flicking the ball over the keeper. Our oustatnding midefielders David Hanley and Callum Francis chipped in with the sixth and seventh goals to round off a truly impressive display. Special mention to Shae Proudlove who performed to perfection his assigned task of keeping Lymm's star man quiet.
Man of the match was captain for the day, David Hanley, a true captain's performance.
Next match: 14th October away at Urmston Town Vipers, KO TBC
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