U13 Cougars - Dorking Wanderers Youth U13 Youth Yellows

Surrey Youth League Premier Elite | Sunday 25th January | Gordon’s Bradwell

Final score: Cougars 1 – 5 Dorking Wanderers

We welcomed league leaders and unbeaten Dorking Wanderers Yellows to Gordon’s Bradwell knowing we were facing one of the strongest sides in the division. Despite the result, this was another important step forward in our development and a performance full of positives.

We started the game well, looking calm and composed in possession and brave in our build-up, sticking to our principles. Unfortunately, we were punished early when a pass in build-up was intercepted and Dorking capitalised to make it 1–0, followed shortly by a long-range strike to put them 2–0 ahead.

Credit to the boys — heads stayed up. We responded with real intensity, pressing higher and starting to gain control, particularly through the midfield partnership of Leonardo Lanzalaco and Luke Henderson, who worked well as a double pivot. We created several good chances, including efforts from distance and well-worked attacks down the right and through central areas.

Our reward came in the 24th minute. After excellent hold-up play from Rez Aslam, Logan Pollock’s free-kick struck the post and Jonny Salter reacted quickest to tap home his first goal for the team — fully deserved for his work rate and bravery off the ball.

Unfortunately, within a minute we were caught too open in transition and Dorking restored their two-goal advantage to make it 3–1 going into half-time.

The second half saw changes and continued effort from the group. Lucas Farnsworth made several excellent saves to keep us in the game, and we continued to look to play out with courage, even against Dorking’s aggressive press. As legs tired late on, Dorking’s quality showed and they added two further goals in the final minutes.

Despite the scoreline, there were strong individual and collective performances:

• Leonardo Lanzalaco was outstanding in midfield and at centre-back — calm, composed, disciplined and brave on the ball against top opposition.
• Jake Lewis and Louie White defended superbly against very quick wide players.
• Logan Pollock showed growing maturity in when to slow the game down and play penetrative passes.
• Oscar Cefai and Bobby Murrell continued to show huge bravery playing out under pressure.
• Jonny Salter’s goal capped a very strong first-half performance.

The result doesn’t define us. The performance, attitude, and weekly improvement do. If we continue to improve by 1% each week, this group will become a very strong footballing team.