Report: David Wall and Steve Checkley

There are times as a football coach that you simply can't be more proud of the boys. Due to university visits and Duke of Edinburgh, and accursed EBFA shenanigans, we started with a bare 11 and no regular keeper (thanks EBFA!) but we only went and won it! Reminds me of a Phil Collins song...

It was very pleasing for us coaches as we totally saw the team deploy what we've been focusing on in training. As such, we not only competed well for the high balls but fought for the second bounces, and the touches to control airborne pings were sublime. Throughout the game there were many echoes of 'first touch!'. The transition to attack thereafter was often joyous one or two-touch football, totally catching out the opposition and sliced through their midfield and defence.

Our first goal came from the left, set up by Fin, who got in behind their defence and cut it back to Captain Tom, who simply stroked the ball past a bewildered keeper. Fin turned out to be a handful for the BCCC defence the whole game, almost scoring a few times himself, sometimes dramatically such as his bicycle kick! Tom was a demon in midfield, seemingly everywhere and sometimes all at once.

Not long after, the opposition pulled it back to 1-1 from a ball over the top. This was the main reason we've been working on the high ball as now some forwards are approaching six-and-a-half feet in height, we need to be able to deal with it. Alas, after a few long and high punts, the BCCC forwards finally put one past Ron.

Our second goal came following some great quick football. Alfie, at RB, stopped the oncoming attack in its tracks and fed the ball to Tom. Before you knew it, James was 1-on-1 with the keeper and put us 2-1 up*. Such fluid football. Liquid football, I believe they call it!

Again, the high ball over the top caught us out again, and BCCC took the game back to 2-2.

Our third goal came before half time and from some ping-ponging from a corner. Although it was cleared, newcomer Raph stepped into the mixer from CB, won the ball and passed it perfectly to Connor's feet, who didn't hesitate to smash it into top bins. 3-2 before the break.

In the half time break, we fixed most of the back four issues, especially with holding the offside line. This brought Ben P further into the game, who I think had a cracking game. Again, a great first touch and with an adjustment to his position, became even more well placed to make many critical interceptions, and tragically denied a powerful and well struck shot from afar by the post.

BCCC once again tried to play the high ball and managed to get in behind our defence. Mark made a last ditch attempt to stop a potentially certain goal, but was late in the challenge and he was shown a red card! The resulting fee kick was parried away by Ron, but bobbled in the box and the opposition forward that got onto it, went down from a challenge to win a penalty. Ron chose to dive the right way but it was an expertly taken penalty, right in the corner, and taking the game to 3 apiece.

Despite this, and being down to 10 players, we stuck to our plan. Ben J dropped back into defence, with Connor and Tom stepping up a gear in midfield. This then gave James on the right and Thanasi on the left a lot of room to play when the ball was cleared, with Fin continuing to terrorise the BCCC defence. Our fullbacks pushed and contributed towards attacks. Ben P took many corners from the pressure being exerted on our opponents.

We coaches were worried the team would run out of steam but, my goodness, their fitness levels from the gym must be at an all-time high because some of them barely appeared to tire. Players gave their all, with Tom, Ben J and Connor running the midfield and our defence holding the line and competing for everything.

With 5 minutes to go, we drew a foul on the left of their 18 yard box. Ben J stepped up and worked the keeper well. Although he parried it away, a clearance found Ben J once again and he smashed it in the bottom right corner of a goal from distance. David said it reminded him of one Paul Scholes. 4-3 and Cougars had retaken the lead.

The Cougars continued to battle to the end but the boys got their reward for a truly amazing effort throughout the entire match.

And now a few shout-outs. Firstly to Ron who stepped up in goal today. He played there the whole match and made a least 3 superb saves. His goal kicks were accurate, distribution absolutely spot-on and drop kicks massive. You wouldn't have known he wasn't actually a keeper. Great performance and massive respect to him for being a team player. Would not have won without him.

Second shout out from me is newcomer Raph. It can be hard joining a new team but he got stuck in. He made some brave challenges and has a good knack for playing the ball our to feet.

Third is Connor. Again, a new name for this season's squad but a long-serving member of the club and former teammate of Tom and Ben J. He put in a shift, demonstrated some fine first-touch skills but what also impressed me was his position and awareness on the pitch and the covering he did. When Ben P pushed up, for example, he slotted back into LB. Great he scored a goal in his debut for the team but also an important contribution to the team overall.

COYC!

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* I'd actually gone for a quick coffee, so on my return, I was well placed behind the opposition's goal to see the look of sheer determination on James' face as he ran onto the ball. The pass from Tom, who had every right to take a shot, was so perfectly placed. What a pairing on the pitch they proved to be!