U11 Cougars - Ascot United
It was great to be back after the two week break and both teams hit their stride like they had never been away. Ascot United have just been promoted to the Red Division (Tier 1 SYL) after winning all of their games in Tier 2 this season, and having seen them in opposite sides of the draw in tournaments over the summer, we knew it would be a tough game.
The 1st quarter got off to a lively start with both teams offering counter-attack after counter-attack, however as the game settled Cougars started to show their quality and dominated the ball with sustained pressure on the Ascot goal. Despite significant possession and many shots, the Ascot defenders and GK stood firm and the quarter finished deadlocked at 0-0.
2nd quarter Ascot started to find some confidence and started piling on pressure of their own, with Oscar making a string of good saves and clearances with his feet as GK, and Jake and Dylan rocks at CB with Louie adding much needed steel in the midfield. Cougars had chances on the counter with Rory and Josh causing problems from wide and some excellent hold up play from Ethan Copp as CF. 0-0
The 3rd quarter was much the same as the first with more Cougars dominance except this time we were more vulnerable on the counter. Jake making a number of fine saves and at the other end the Ascot GK performing so many miracle saves you wondered if either team were going to break the deadlock no matter how long the match went on for. 0-0
Into the 4th and final quarter and game was tense and both sides intensity levels were rising as was the nerves on the bench and in the crowd. Both teams had chances and couldn't convert, not helped by a pretty chewed up pitch and a rock hard football, however as the quarter went on again Cougars started to take control and in the 41st minute a lovely passage of play and grit and determination from Rory saw him sent tumbling just on the line of the Ascot box from a tackle from behind - PENALTY!
After some debate it was Oscar who placed the match ball down on the spot. Looking confident and making a great connection, unfortunately the ball flew wide of the post to the keepers bottom right much to the delight of the home support! 0-0 still and more drama to follow.
Ascot again applied pressure and after getting caught short at the back from another impressive Ascot direct ball, Ascot took the lead from a nice finish after good initial work from Louie in goal and the defenders. Ball fell luckily to the striker who finished well. 1-0 with less than 5 mins to play.
Cougars didn't lose their heads and worked very hard to get back into the game, and a moment of real quality from Dylan unlocked an otherwise solid Ascot defence. Picking up the ball in his own half Dylan drove between the CF and CM into space and then past the CB dragging the other defender across leaving Oscar free in the box for the square ball. Had Dylan seen the space he'd created for Oscar? Of course he had because that's what he does week after week. The weight of the pass was good enough on the boggy pitch and this time Oscar made no mistake with the finish, outside of the right across the keep that seemed to take forever to roll across the line! 1-1
Both teams had late chances to win with the most notable being a tremendous strike from Oscar from a Cougars corner. Inside the box it was flying into the top right hand corner before an outstretched arm from the Ascot GK produced a stunning save. It wasn't to be and the game finished with Cougars in the ascendancy.
A good draw away from home and good performance to boot. Binfield next week and a good platform to build on!
Go Cougars!
