Caledonian Cougars’ first outing at the Futures Cup

Caledonian Cougars Girls U16 1-2 Mercia Lynx Girls U16

For Caledonian Cougars U16 Girls, Mercia Lynx were always going to be tough opposition – they battered Celtic Jaguars 7-0 the previous day and have clinical goal scorers throughout their team. Lunjika Nyirenda scored a hat trick in that game against the Jaguars and it was she who drew first blood against the Caledonian Cougars on 13 minutes.

The game was very competitive, and going a goal down instantly spurred the Caledonian Cougars to apply pressure on their opposition.

The pressure was rewarded by a goal when Eve Pearson equalised for the Cougars in the 42nd minute from a penalty corner. 1-1.

The game could have gone either way but it was Lunjika Nyirenda who restored Mercia Lynx’s advantage on 61 minutes to make it 2-1. The former Cargilfield School pupil looks to be a goal machine with five goals in two games for the Lynx.

Despite the result the performance bodes well for game two, where the Caledonian Cougars U16 girls will face Celtic Jaguars in the next of game of Pool B in the Futures Cup at Oaklands College St Albans.

Futures Cup

Caledonian Cougars Boys U16 2-4 Mercia Lynx Boys U16

Caledonian Cougars U16 Boys took to the pitch to face a Mercia Lynx side who were coming off the back of a 2-1 defeat to Wessex Leopards, despite leading 1-0 at half time.

It was the Cougars who got off to a flying start and took the lead when Alex Riddell made it 1-0 from a penalty corner in the ninth minute. Riddell’s low drag flick into the corner left the goalkeeper with no chance.

Mercia Lynx equalised when Toby Stanley scored a tremendous penalty corner to make it 1-1 after 21 minutes. Stanley’s drag flick went in off the post and was unstoppable.

Just a few minutes later Fraser Moran restored the lead for Caledonian Cougars. Moran received the ball at right back and drove forward before finishing off an impressive individual goal to put his side 2-1 up.

In the second half Mercia Lynx’s Toby Stanley equalised for a second time to make it 2-2 on 47 minutes. It was his second of the game.

On the whole the Caledonian Cougars had the better of the play but for a ten minute spell, which ultimately cost the side the game. Mercia Lynx took the lead on 53 minutes through a goal by Angus Haigh and then a minute later they added a fourth through Tom Sheldon. For the last ten minutes the Cougars dominated the game but were unable to finish any of the chances they created, and the match finished 4-2.

Wessex Leopards are next up for the U16 boys with the match slated for a 12 noon push back.

Assistant coach Alan Wall said: “This is a game we’ll learn a lot from. The boys haven’t played together that much, so against a team who had all summer to prepare the players did very well. It was a very positive performance and a good base to build on.”

 

Caledonian Cougars U18 Girls 0-4 Saxon Tigers U18 Girls

The Caledonian Cougars U18 Girls knew they would face a tough test as Saxon Tigers came into the game on the back of an emphatic 8-2 win over Celtic Jaguars on day one of the competition. If there was any doubt of the difficulty of overcoming the opposition, it was certainly made clear when the Cougars went behind 2-0 early doors with just 11 minutes gone.

The Tigers took advantage of a slow Cougars start when Abby Gooderham scored in the fifth minute from open play. Jordan Homann doubled the Tigers’ lead five minutes later from a penalty corner. Catherine Ledesma then added a third on 26 minutes to make the score 3-0 at half time.

The Caledonian Cougars came out with something to prove in the second half and upped their performance significantly. The team was marking and running better and created some good chances from corners.

The second half effort was not enough to stop Jordan Homann scoring her second and Saxon Tigers’ fourth from open play on 64 minutes. 4-0.

Confidence will be taken from the second half performance and the Caledonian Cougers U18 Girls look forward to their next game when they play the Celtic Jaguars as they try to claw some points onto the board.

Futures Cup 1

Caledonian Cougars U18 Boys 3-4 Saxon Tigers U18 Boys

The final game of the day saw Caledonian Cougars U18 Boys take on a Saxon Tigers, coming into this one following 3-2 victory over Mercia Lynx in their opening game of the U18 Boys Futures Cup.

It was a great start and the Cougars went 1-0 up when Cameron Golden scored in the 17th minutes. From a quick break, Golden broke into the D and rounded the goalkeeper to score.

Fraser Calder doubled the lead in the 27th minute. From a rebound Calder smashed a reverse stick shot into the net to make it 2-0.

Until the 60th minute the Caledonian Cougars looked home and dry. Then Morgan Males pulled one back for the Tigers and then two minutes later Zach Wallace equalised.

Fraser Calder stepped up to score his second goal of the game to put the Cougars back in front. A fleeting break saw Calder take the ball wide before shooting across the goalkeeper into the bottom corner.

Almost instantly the Tigers equalised again through Toby Stillwell. Then with 30 seconds left to play Jagdeep Hanspal scored the winner to secure a 4-3 win for Saxon Tigers. It was a cruel blow after such a positive and impressive performance by the Cougars. The game however comes right at the start of the U18 programme and shows there is a great platform for the side to build on.

Caledonian Cougars U18 Boys will next play Mercia Lynx in their Futures Cup quest for success.

 

Photos by Dave Cawthorn Sporting Photography & Art

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